ginam, your breed choices sound good, they are all fairly mellow, friendly, docile breeds that should get along just great--just make sure you have enough room for all the birds to roost and in the coop, overcrowding ANY breed can lead to fights, picking, etc. I agree with fancifowl as to the comment on heavier and lighter breeds...but--! I have to laugh at myself, since my own flock of 40 chickens is a wild mix of just about everything...bantams and standard size, Silkies, Polish (White Crested Black and Buff Laced), Americaunas, SLW, Dark Indian Cornish Rock, Cochins, MilleFleurs, Jersey Giant, Frizzles, RIR, various mutt banties and Sultan. I'm guilty of Impulse Chicken Buying, I think I need a 12 Step Program! *G* With the exception of the minor, fleeting squabble here and there (as in any flock) they all get along great. In the rare instance I've had a bad bird develop, I've gotten rid of them--but that's only happened twice in the last 10 years--roos both times. I highly recommend the Polish. They are entertaining, VERY friendly, comical and curious. Two caveats: #1--Most of the time you will need to trim their facial feathers a bit to help them see (I'm convinced that the reason Polish have a reputation for being skittish or flighty is just plain because they don't SEE things until it's right on top of them--I'd jump, too!). If you visit browneggblueegg.com, go to the 'articles' section and click on 'Helping Silkies See', he has terrific guidelines on how to do this. Silkies are like Polish and have trouble seeing due to their heavy crests and facial tufting. I've found that once I trim my Polish and Silkies facial feathers, because they are out in the yard I don't have to do it again, or at least not until the next molt. #2--Crested breeds, due to stupid humans breeding for bigger and better crests, have developed a hole in their skull (see more info on browneggblueegg) through which their brains actual protrude! This can make them more susceptible to brain injuries from a peck to the head, and mine have trouble in heavy rainstorms when their crests get weighted down by water (this can also cause brain injuries). Keeping the feathers around their eyes trimmed so they can see and avoid threats from aggressive flockmates can help them avoid head pecks, and when it rains my Silkies and Polish come indoors and hang out in the kitchen for a bit. I keep my coop open during the day and they don't have the sense to go in the coop where it's dry...*sigh* Instead they stand out in the open in the rain, getting drenched and looking miserable. I figure a little mud in the kitchen is cheaper than a visit to the vet. Even given the extra care, the birds are a treat and I'll always have them in my flock. Shortly I'm putting up some pictures of my flock on my site, so you'll be able to see what my setup and birds look like. Velvet ~:>

NEVER EVER give a chicken Avocado! Avocados are poisonous to birds all birds. I know this thread is really old but someone will read this. I can't help but wonder why someone would find exploding chickens funny, maybe she shouldn't have animals then! Anything that would cause my wonderful hens pain I find very disturbing. I have a few that are going on 8 years old, they still lay, maybe not all the time but they have a little cycle, they are girls after all! If they stop altogether, they still have a forever home! My hens eat peas mixed with some plain yogurt and scrambled eggs (scrambled in a little olive oil) and diced blueberries and strawberries they love this treat. Its good for them and helps them lay nice strong eggs. I only use a tiny bit of olive oil and this helps keep them clear, a bit of organic apple cider vinegar in their water keeps them from getting sour crop, just a couple times a week. No way would I give them anything that is questionable, too acidic like lemons, or strong like onion. They free range during the day and are in their coop at night, safe and sound..... and they are very funny and sociable. If I am unsure, I don't risk it. They get good lay mash, crumbles and scratch too. always fresh water (on a drip) Chickens need to drink A LOT, more than they need to eat so make sure their water is fresh and clean ;) If you are going to keep birds, don't laugh at them being hurt, that is just not right.

Velvet Sparrow gives excellent advice. It's best to just start off with a few. Before I made the plunge, I bought a chicken book that had a ton of info on various chicken breeds and went from there. I chose from those listed as "docile" and "good for beginners", plus I wanted ones who laid a brown or tinted egg, and was fairly prolific. I wasn't interested in Bantams, nor Polish-type show breeds. Therefore, please bear this in mind when you read my advice. Although I've gone more "commercial" and the majority of my hens are hybrid layers.I still have a variety of "heritage" or dual-purpose chickens. I think that the best of these is the Barred Rock. The females lay a good quantity of light brown eggs, and the males make really excellent eating. Very, very tasty. I've only had 3 Buff Orpingtons (one was killed by my dog), so now I have two, and I just love their looks and their personality. My Easter Eggers (Ameracaunas) have been the only "fragile" breed I've had. Of a total of six - one was euthanized for crop impaction before she came into lay, and another died without explanation - and she was the one who laid beautiful blue eggs, and was really, really sweet. One other lays only white eggs extremely rarely....(grrrrh!), and another is so low in the pecking order that she frequently has a bald back. My Marans are nice birds, even the Roosters (although I've read differently - mine have been nice). The hens don't lay well (except for the spring of the first season. HOWEVER, my Maran-Ameracauna hybrids lay REALLY well - an olive-green egg. I really like my Welsummers. To me, they just have a very pleasing look (and the roosters were the Kellogg's rooster!). At the moment, they're young, they lay a smaller, but nicely colored brick-red egg. They are very curious and have a very sweet disposition (even the roosters). I'd also like to try Barnevelders - the double-laced variety - just beautiful. I've heard that a typical novice error is to buy too many different types of chickens. However, I just don't agree with that. It's MUCH cheaper to buy eggs and chickens from the store. Depending on how your raise your chickens, it's usually much more humane to raise your own chicken and eggs. Therefore, given that you'll be paying more, my stance is that you may as well raise different colored eggs, and chickens that please you visually! It's a lot of work - why not enjoy it! Although I'm raising eggs commercially now from several different breeds - I still get untold pleasure by looking down on eggs ranging from blue - green - olive green - pink, light brown - brick red - dark brown - speckled brown. Plus, since my restaurants are buying "farm fresh eggs" it's kind of a good way of making sure I'm different from the competition! Have fun!

quirkyquerus: I totally agree. We don't really have any pet stores to speak of in my area other than Petsmart. I have never gotten a pet from a petstore except for hamsters and guinea pigs and fish. I think when people buy at a petstore it's more for convenience. They decide they want a pet and they go shopping. I tend to buy from breeders unless I can find the specific breed I want from rescue. In the past I have gotten rescue animals but what I learned is that sometimes you really do need to pick an animal that will fit with your family better. This is a long term committment. Too many people buy because the breed is popular or cute and then they find out it doesn't get along with kids or cats or whatever and the dog ends up being abandoned. Research is really important. I spent a year and a half researching my current dog before I got him and he's better than I could have hoped for. My last dog was with us for over 14 years (a retriever)who was perfect for our family then.