Good starter/family hens?

[TwigletTwo]

We're in the process of getting our first chickens, and looking for the best types to suit:

• child friendly
• good layers
• big enough to not be a target for our very good hunter cats (bantams are out)

A local breeder has hybrids and pure breds - i think the hybrids are meant to be more robust and better layers, but not as friendly. Experiences welcome!

Warrens or Warren crosses. They are quite robust, friendly, inquisitive and pretty docile. They are great layers (they are the ones usually used for commercial production) and really quite straight forward. If you want to rehome some rather than buying point of lay then the British Hen Welfare Trust organise rehomings every so often. Mine see off my cats when they have visions of chicken dinners too :)

Thank you! Really helpful. I can't find any ex-battery locally sadly - there seems to be a long wait. I'll check out Warrens!

Agree with PP. Can recommend Buff Orpingtons too. Personally I'd go for a hybrid; if you handle then enough you won't worry about them not being friendly vividmemories of hatching from an incubator and having two chick's permanently attached to my shoulders and having to keep Teams camera off