I have narrowed it down to 7!

Seven breeds of chickens, that is.

After doing some more research and talking to a lady at a local feed store, I have decided against bantam chickens.  I still would really like to learn more about bantams, but I think that regular sized chickens are best for our family since we are just starting out in the poultry world.  And since we eat a lot of eggs (and by "we" I mean "my husband" lol), the regular sized chicken eggs would be more convenient than the much smaller eggs laid by the bantam variety.  So maybe one day we will try bantams.  Just not at this time.

With that being said, these are my top 7 chicken breed choices!

#7
Double-Laced Barnevelder

#6
Buff Brahma

#5
Buff Orpington

#4
Ameraucana (Or Easter Egger--either one)

#3
Silver-Laced Wyandotte

#2
Blue Splash Maran (Or Black Copper or Silver Cuckoo)

#1
Australorp

Kevin's only request is the Australorp, so I am making sure it is our #1 on the list.  It seems to be very popular and an excellent layer.  Pretty much all of the chickens in my top 7 are at least decent, if not excellent, layers.  The other quality I searched for in my hunt for breed choices is temperament.  I want chickens that are friendly and that make good pets.  I want Carson to enjoy the chickens, as well as future babies number 2 and 3.  And I believe that all of my chicken choices lay colored/tinted eggs.  Not that I would hate to have white eggs or anything, I just didn't want a Leghorn (temperament), and I believe that they are one of the few breeds to lay white eggs.  I love the idea of the blues, greens, light and dark browns.

Also, I think we are getting closer in our coop design decision.  At the moment, we are leaning towards a stationary, well ventilated, coop with the tinted greenhouse style roof.  With hardware cloth instead of chicken wire.  And possibly a little tractor or portable run for them so they can have some freedom around the yard.  We were able to get 3 more books from my library hold list.  We got Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds, Backyard Chicken's Guide to Coops and Tractors (building plans!),  and The Small Scale Poultry Flock.  I haven't had gobs of time this weekend, but I'm interested to dig more into The Small Scale Poultry Flock.  It seems to have a lot of good information.  I keep reading so many conflicting tidbits, though.  Such as composting, cleaning, smell, handling of the eggs.  How are you supposed to know what to do when there are a hundred different ways to do it?  Trial and error, I suppose.  Ok, well I must start getting to bed.  Babysitting tomorrow plus subbing the 6-7pm Zumba class!  And the rain from Issac is lulling me to sleep.  Zzz  Zzz ZZzzz......