I would start with at least 20 chickens and one or more roosters. Depending on where you live and how securely you can enclose your flock at night, you might lose a hen to predation now and again. If you have only a few hens, you'd soon be out of business.

Also, you'll enjoy a larger flock more than you will just a few hens. One of the joys of keeping chickens is observing flock dynamics--and that's why I recommend having at least one rooster.

Keep in mind that roosters crow in response to movement, so if things stay fairly low-key in the henhouse or barn or wherever you keep your flock, your rooster will probably start crowing only about hour or so before dawn. Some are noisy, some aren't--it's sort of luck of the draw.  :o)

Quite a few of the heritage breeds would work well for you. To learn more about this, check out Carol Ekarius' "Chickens on the Farm" article archived at http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/chickens-on-farm-14775.aspx or pick up a copy of the Popular Farming Chickens magabook. Another superlative breed resource (that rates 60 breeds on specific qualities) is Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart at: http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

What will the chickens teach you in the first year? Well, that those tasteless imposters they sell in cartons at the supermarket are not real eggs--there is no comparison whatsoever with the homegrown real thing! They'll also teach you that chickens are both personable and intelligent, much more so than people who have never experienced chickens can possibly believe--and that chickens are, well, fun!

I bet you're going to love having chickens. :o)

Sue