I've decided on Rhode Island Reds, they're well-known for both egg production and brooding, although I have no plans to get a rooster any time soon. I know what my time frame is for getting one and they are very easy to come by so that's for down the road. Right now, I just want eggs, not chicks.
I thought I was going to have to just dismantle everything I had done here to accommodate my great danes, but it looks like I won't after all. I had roofed over a 4 foot by 8 foot space between the side of my shed and the back fence. Now I'm just closing it in for the hen house. I do plan to clip wings and let them free range my yard. The garden in the back yard is fenced off from the rest of the yard, leaving plenty of room for a half dozen chickens and a trio of goats. If it turns out that I need to confine the goats, I had a 25' by 60' run for the dogs surrounded by privacy fence as the side yard and I'm going to bug bomb the doghouses that are still sitting out there to provide them with shelter. All three of them will fit in one great dane doghouse. I will build them a proper "barn" off the back of the shed which is against the run area with a raised milking stall in there eventually, but I suspect it will be a few months before I start getting milk. I don't have the goats yet - so I don't know what ages they will be when I get them. I am really hoping I can get my hands on one that's recently had babies or is pregnant. I'll find out tomorrow morning!