What are the best breeds for a "newbie" in the suburbs?

[MiaPia]

So I've got the chicken bug - BAD. We are building our coop, learning all we can, and are about to order our chicks. Since we are in the suburbs, we know we can't have too many, but ideally we'd like to start with 5 or 6.
We have our list narrowed down to EIGHT, but need to cull it down. What do y'all suggest?

Ameraucana
Black Star
Blue Silkie
Buff Orpington
Cuckoo Maran
Frizzle Cochin
Partridge Silkie
Silver Laced Wyandotte

We want these girls as PETS and to be on friendly terms with out 3 kids, but we also want eggs as well. Our coop is going to be 32 sq ft with an attached run that will be 50 sq ft. We are outside most days, and we'll let the girls run free when we are our there. So which 5 (or 6) chickens might work best for us?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Yogiman]

I am very partial to the buff orps as first choice. Beautiful birds, very docile and good brown egg layers.

Second choice from your list would be Cuckoo Maran. Never raised them but heard really good things about them. Chocolate colored eggs.

Black Star is a sex link and an egg laying machine, literally.

Wyandottes are touted to be gentle but my flock didn't prove to be.

I'm not into the fancies so I can't help you with them. Sorry.

Good luck with your choices.

 

[chickenannie]

I'd vote for Buff Orpingtons. They are weather-proof, and seem more vigorous and instinctive in foraging/eating, taking cover from predators, searching out grubs, etc. than my other chickens. They're also strikingly beautiful.

 

[Katy]

My Marans are very laid back, but if you get hatchery birds don't expect to get the very dark brown eggs they are known for.

I'm only now getting started with Orpingtons, but have always heard good things about them.

I've got Blue Laced Red Wyandottes....not the silver laced, and they are my friendliest birds.

 

[Redfeathers]

I love my buff Orpington girls. They are very sweet and quiet.

 

[MiaPia]

OK, so the Buff Orpington and Black Star are definitely staying - and probably the Ameraucana too -
ARGH - this is so hard!

I appreciate all the suggestions and opinions - keep 'em coming!

 

[MS9325]

for friendliest you cant go wrong with a cochin, they are really gentle.

 

[Mr. Ree]

Idealy, you would want bantams since you live in the 'burbs. And Cochins or Silkies would be your best bet from the list I saw. They are sweet, docile, tame, and very gentle by nature. They take up little room and dont require as much food and space as a standard bird. I have owned both breeds and prefer Cochin (specially Frizzles) over anything else.


~Casey

 

[kstaven]

Sikies and Orpingtons in the suburbs. Aneraucana tend to be more vocal. The Black Star (cross breed) is a good layer and usually pretty well mannered. I do hope you have TALL fences.

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Since Barred Rocks are not on your list, I would say choose the Buff Orps, beautiful, big fat friendly chickens. I have a friend that has about 20 of them and has plenty of eggs daily from them. You might want to check your city ordinance and see just how many you CAN have, it's 10 where I live. I have no neighborhood covenants but those can be sticky too on what they allow or not. Good luck