I would have already had several coops built before purchasing chicks! After seeing pictures and picking breeds you learn that bantams and standards don't mix well, some breeds (rhode island reds) don't get along with any other breeds once laying, fancy (think polish) will get picked on by non-fancy breeds, etc. So in my experience I couldn't even integrate RIR sons/daughters with mothers- they killed the most submissive, the other 2 could only eat/drink when I was in coop to protect them for a month. A coop for different breeds/ varieties before starting and don't forget that bachelor coops are a must to give those girls a break