Newbie - what do I need to know? And Breeds?

[SingleMumAndProud]

Hi. I am hoping to get about 4 hens for my garden.

I have ideas for a home made run, hopefully a walk in one. And have found a second hand coop for £40 which I think I am going to buy. Are there any main things I need to consider?

I am also looking into breeds. My main priorities are:

• Being able to be left out all winter
• Good with children (I have 2 toddlers)
• Egg production.

I guess the smaller the chicken, the more I could keep in the space?

The coop I am hoping to buy, is fairly large. The lady who has it said she had 6 small hens in it. It is divided into 2 in the bottom half, with a perch all the way along. I will link to a picture when my PC starts behaving! It doesn't have any nesting boxes though? Can I buy these seperatly?

For the ongoing costs, is it just food? And vets if they get sick?

I would be grateful of any advice. I have looked through many threads, and joined the poultry keepers forum, but I am waiting to be approved on there!

Thanks!

this is the coop I am hoping to buy

All of my chickens winter outdoors - even the breeds that are generally kept indoors!
As long as the house is well ventilated, but draught proof, they'll be fine.

If you go for hybrid chickens (not pure breeds, but bred for egg production) I've generally found tham to be fairly easily tamed, and as long as you teach your dc to handle them properly, and not chase them or pull feathers, they should get on fine.

Hybrids would also take care of the egg situation.
Most of mine are pure breeds, and we don't get as regular an egg supply as we did when we just had hybrids.

Ongoing costs - mostly food (layers pellets, mixed corn if you're generous!, crushed oyster shell - but a bag will last you aaages) We have very few vets bills, but only because we learnt very quickly that quite often, vets don't know much about chickens.
If one of ours is ill, it gets isolated in a warm place with food and water.
If you get a good poultry book, it will tell you how to deal with some of the common problems that crop up.