Hi Victoria Plum,
Your original spec was for easy to keep birds and although Silkies and Polands are very attractive looking, Silkies and Polands, inparticular, aren't the ideal first bird to keep as they do require more looking after in the British climate.
Personally I think you should choose between bantams and large fowl first. The basic choice here is egg size and production. If you want larger eggs then L/F and then you need to choose hybrids or pure breeds. If you just want eggs and nice pets hybyrids would be fine and are relatively easy to source and aren't too expensive. Since hybrids (and first crosses ie first generation crosses between pure breeds) come in all sorts of varieties it depends on what you like the look of. Personally I wouldn't get too carried away with people's opinions of temperment which are just a projection of the way they are treated in the main. Some hybrid varieties do have some dominant characteristics but they will generally react to how you treat them. Below is a cut and paste of a reply on this topic I wrote a while back.
"If you want lots of eggs and some interesting pets and aren't interested in the social side of chicken keeping choose hybrids. They lay lots of eggs particularly in their first 2 seasons and make good pets too. However if you want to keep chx as more of a hobby or want spectacular looking birds, or bantams, or want to breed birds, or engage in the social side of breed clubs, or get into showing etc then choose Pure Breeds.
It's like the difference between mongrels and pedegree dogs really. Most people start with hybrids because they want eggs and hybrids are readily available from garden centres and breeders. Once they get to know a little more they want to get more into the hobby angle and want specific Pure Breeds.
Hybrids are created at each generation from breeder stock to have specific laying qualities though these days looks and egg colour are also bred for. However hybrids aren't standardised and don't breed to type and many small breeders have their own specific types which can't be replicated across breeders. You ONLY get hen birds as cocks are useless being no use for breeding from and no use for the table either so are culled early as soon as sexed. Pure breeds are standarised and breed true to type. Both cocks and hens are bred as adult birds. The type standards are set by the Poultry Club of GB. Pure breeds can be layers, utility or purely showing breeds. Utility are useful for laying or the table, layers for eggs like hybrids but not so prolific and usually lay for a few more seasons than hybrids. Show breeds are purely for fanciers for looks, breeding and showing alone. Most pure breeds have a bantam version which are useful if space is an issue. They can be good layers but frequently they are show birds only. Although I believe there are bantam hybrids I can't personally understand the rationale for these as they will only produce small eggs and are no use for showing or the table.
So there you are in a nutshell. It's horses for courses and it's what you want them for. There's no best buy option!"
On breed choice if you have chosen a hybrid just go for one you like the look of or otherwise for general friendliness and interest you won't go far wrong with the good old Ranger rather than one of the more esoteric crosses you find today.
For L/F pure breeds easy to keep reasonably good egg layers the ever dependable, though not the most spectacular lookers, Light or Buff Sussex or Rhode Island Red are hard to beat and are friendly. Wyandottes are lovely looking too though not as prolific. Cream legbars are widely available and lay blue eggs. The list is endless but I'd steer clear, if you want an EGLU, of the really large breeds like Orpingtons (everyone's favourites as a looker and a pet though a poor layer), Brahms and Cochins. I'd also avoid the more ornamentally feathered varieties like Polands and Silkies though Silkies make good pets though are renownd broodies.
A relationship with a good local breeder is worth cultivating and anyone who loves chickens should be keen to talk to you. The thing about enthusiasts is that the breeds they keep are always the best chx in the world so take their advice with a pinch of salt but seeing the stock in situ and how it is kept should help you choose good healthy birds. Don't be affraid to ask any question.
EGLU or wooden housing and your method of husbandry are probably the most important choice you will make so don't compromise it by rushing choosing on the basis of bird availability as hopefully you will live with it for many years and a bad mistake now will spoil your enjoyment in the future. Eglus are very limited in the number of birds you can keep so be sure you don't want to expand. This is an addictive hobby and most like to grow their flock to at least 6. Wooden houses need not be difficult to move and there are many barrow type arks on wheels or with handles for two to carry. Go for a good make and avoid flatpack petshop or ebay imports. House design is critical and there are lots to learn and many terrible designs out there made by companies who know nothing about chicken keeping so beware. The plastic EGLU is a very practical house in terms of ease of maintenance though the run is completely useless, it's just if you like it's looks or not. Personally I prefer a traditional wooden house in my environment but an EGLU in a garden setting isn't too out of place. I've seen some monstrosities of looks and design in recycled plastic in particular one called an ECO house whch was black and quite the most inappropriate design I've seen. Low on the ground, quirky doors with fancy gimmicky opening and closing levers which couldn't be automated, lego style construction and like the black hole of Calcutta inside pokey and black, just a waste of good landfill in my opinion.
Choose on what's best for your method of husbandry first, your chickens second and your ease of looking after third all are important not any considerations or personal statements of green principles. Actually wood from replenishable cultivation is infinitely the best from this perspective in my view.
Read more about good house design and methods of keeping before you decide on the housing then get your birds in the spring and avoid the winter now.
HF
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February 09, 2009, 10:16