Welcome to the forum! :) Good for you for wanting to learn more about chickens before jumping in, it makes it so much easier when you can learn form other peoples' mistakes. *L*

If you search the farm forum using chickens as a keyword you'll run across all kinds of threads on chickens and how to keep and raise them. Loads of great info here. :)

You can read up on endangered chicken breeds here on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy site, there are chicken breeds listed on there that surprised me:

http://www.albc-usa.org/wtchlist.htm

feathersite.com is another site with lots of good info, including many pictures of the different breeds.

In reference to layering, I think you are referring to the layers of material on the coop floor...?

Many small farm operators on here say their chickens support them nicely in meat and eggs. I personally just keep a small backyard flock for pets, eggs and comic relief. :) I do have tons of chicken info on my 'My Page' link, though, it may help you. I think the two most important things with chickens is to protect them from predation and disease, everything else is pretty easy. An ounce of prevention really IS worth a pound of cure when it comes to chickens.

Good luck with your birds, and enjoy! :)

Velvet

Here's a couple of websites for you to peruse:

http://www.albc-usa.org/ - The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

http://www.nehbc.org/ - The Heritage Breeds Conservancy

Both have information on endangered poultry breeds.

Velvet, your My Page was most informative, thanks. I do have a lot of experience with pet birds, but sure do appreciate information on chickens, specifically.

I don't care much if I make money on the chickens, but do want them to support themselves!

Clarify, please. "Also, do chickens support themselves with eggs and meat?" Do you mean, you don't want to spend more $ than the $ chickens bring in? Or...

In (many) city limits, it is legal to have a few hens (no roosters, because of the noisy crowing). While you are livng in the city, you might want to try your hand at raising a few hens, to see whether it suits you, and as a general learning experience about chickens.

Chickens are very easy to care for. They do need a constant supply of food & water, at least 1 companion, and that's about it. The more room they have to roam, the less cleaning, in general.

They like to perch & be up high, especially at night, which is the only complaint about the "eglu" featured on
http://www.omlet.co.uk.com

Sorry, what I meant was would their expenses be less than the money to maintain them. I realize the initial outlay of money would be more, but I don't want an expensive hobby, either.

In my subdivision we are not allowed to have any farm animals, so I can't practice. I did have some chickens many years ago that were slaughtered by a dog in seconds. An Irish setter got into the pen and killed every one before I could get to them.

I have a friend who does have chickens and a rooster and he works until midnight and feeds his birds when he gets home so the rooster doesn't crow until about 930am, which makes the neighbors very happy.