How many chicks for a first try?

[Scarlet]

It may be worth just looking around for a some good hybrid pullets that will lay well. If your wife has fallen in love with these chicks and they turn out to be boys how happy is she going to be when she serves it up on a plate for tea


...it took my OH several years before. He ate our Christmas turkey - he stuck with sausage meat!

[d000hg]

How much space have you got?

More than we could need. Although I'd rather keep it sensible.

UPDATE:
We've ended up with 6 chicks, as far as we can tell all hens based on the colouring though we'll see! We're moving to the new place in 3 weeks so just have to keep them boxed up until then... at what age do they actually get put into the coop normally and stop needing a heat-lamp, etc?