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When you say you want to get a 'couple' of laying hens, I'm wondering if you realize that chickens generally don't lay every single day. If, for example, you'd like to get roughly a dozen eggs per week, as you would if you got them at the grocery store, you'd probably have to have at least 7 to ten hens. Some types of chickens lay more than others so do your research ahead of time to find the best layers. Layer feed is designed to help the situation by giving the hens the optimal nutrition for egg laying, so I'd recommend buying a few bags and supplement it with a bit of cracked corn. Chickens do squabble sometimes, especially if one of them finds a special 'treat', such as a mouse, bug, blade of grass, weed, or piece of fruit. (in other words, virtually anything) They can raise quite the ruckus during those times, and as someone already suggested, they also advertise each newly laid egg quite loudly, presumably because it hurts delivering that egg. You will probably encounter this problem more with larger hens who lay larger eggs by default. Most hens can be quite lovable, often wandering over to get petted or to be held or hugged. But remember, that hens are also a bit stupid at times and will always be underfoot. They can trip you up pretty fast, so walk cautiously while among them. As for smell, yes, they poop a lot, as birds are fairly incontinent creatures. However, with frequent cleaning you can keep on top of the situation. If you don't, the place will turn toxic with ammonia fumes. That chicken manure makes great organic compost, by the way, if you also have a vegetable garden. I've seen it used on corn fields where the tassels hit the ten foot and taller range, so getting rid of the chicken poop is do-able as well.
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