Do your homework, decide what suits and then go fer it. Don't be sidelined by looks etc..etc.. unless you will be at home every day. If you just want eggs, go for a hybrid such as a black rock as they will lay well & are a good "starter" chicken and there is nothing better than a flock of black birds running around yer grounds to give you kudos!!
Vermin depends on where you are/live. If you let them free range as in the proper sense and not just wander about in a small run then you have to accept that this might happen ( foxes, minks, raptors etc) - lock them up at night and it lessons the chances but look at the size of the runs on most commercial huts and tell me that you are happy with their size?
Mine free range over 2 acres during the day and are put away at night but we still lost one recently to a raptor, such is life. Bloody lice are the biggest problem IMO!!
Good chicken keepin!