KEEPING poultry is becoming increasingly popular and people with even small gardens are now opting to have some birds. This can be for a multitude of reasons, from enjoying your own fresh eggs, for exhibition purposes or just the satisfaction of having them around.

The first thing to do is research which breed you really want. Going to an agricultural show that has poultry exhibits is a good way of seeing what pure breeds are available. However, if it is eggs you are after then the commercial hybrids are the ones to go for because they are little egg laying machines. The pure breeds do of course lay eggs but they will lay far fewer and for shorter periods than the hybrid birds.

Buying a trio of birds - that is a cockerel and two hens -- is an ideal way to begin. You will learn a lot from your birds in the first year of keeping them and in the second you might want to rear a few chicks, which is always exciting. Your trio will need housing and a pen, unless you intend to let them roam free during the day. Housing is immensely important because if they are not safely shut up at night then you will only manage to keep them for a few days because the fox will take them, of that you can be sure. Housing also provides shelter from wind and rain, an area in which to lay eggs and accommodation if required to be housed for disease control.

If you feel that hatching eggs is a good way to start then you would need an incubator in which to hatch them, a heat lamp to rear them on and suitable housing and penning for when they are ready to go outside. Should you have the use of a broody hen to incubate the eggs then the electrical equipment would not be needed. Certainly buying hatching eggs is much cheaper than buying stock but you could end up with mostly cockerels - or drakes if it is waterfowl you are after - and you need to think about what you would do with the surplus males. When keeping poultry always think of the implications of breeding and what you would do with excess birds. Despatching cockerels is not a nice job but could be necessary if other birds are not to suffer and very few sales outlets will accept cockerels only.

There are so many ways in which poultry can be bought these days and the Internet is becoming a very popular way of purchasing either birds or hatching eggs. I have nothing against Internet auction sites but you do have to be careful how you go about buying something this way because you could spend more than necessary, plus, you don't really know what you are getting.

Poultry equipment sites are fine but livestock is different. I have heard of ridiculous sums being paid for hatching eggs, simply because the person buying did not know how to go about buying them any other way, so felt obliged to keep in the bidding. If you are intending to purchase this way do find out first what the going rate is for hatching eggs or birds of the particular breed you are interested in before bidding, so you are aware of what you should be paying.

Do your research

Poultry auctions are another way in which to purchase birds but here again find out as much as possible about the lots you are interested in. One of the best guides as to whether the birds will breed true is to establish if they were put in the sale by a reputable breeder.

Late summer, autumn or winter is when breeders sell their young stock and surplus adult stock and it is possible to pick up some really good birds this way and even a bargain but beware of the birds that are bred in quantity, just to be put into sales, primarily for the cash return. These will not necessarily have been bred to the standard of the breed and could have serious defects.

During the spring and autumn some auction salerooms hold a rare and pure breed poultry show and sale and these are certainly worth a visit. The birds are judged before they are sold which gives potential purchasers a rough idea of the quality on show.

The judges are usually experienced poultry people and the birds, after inspection will be carded, so if something you are interested in has a prize card it could be worth bidding for. However, it is also likely to mean that the bidding would be more competitive but paying good money for quality is far better than paying good money for poor quality!

Once you have decided on a particular breed, another way to buy your birds would be through that breed club. Most breeds have their own breed club and the secretary can advise you on the merits of the breed and if there is a breeder in your area.

Details of all the breed clubs are available from The Poultry Club of Great Britain. If there is a breeder near you then fine, it would be well worthwhile contacting them and arranging a visit. If on the other hand, a breeder is much further afield you need to decide whether you are prepared to travel to purchase some birds. Even though this may take more time and effort it is a very good way of determining the quality of the birds as you would be able to see the parent stock and also, how they are being cared for and reared, which is always useful. Buying through the Internet or at a sale will not provide the same insight.

Specialist magazines, such as Smallholder, will also carry adverts for poultry both for pure breeds and commercial hybrids. If you are planning to start up in free-range egg production then there are hatcheries where you can buy day-old chicks for rearing on. Of course actually buying the chicks will be the last thing to do because a venture like this will need plenty of research and planning - and it may even need planning permission. Research your market as well because if you cannot be sure of being able to sell the eggs then think again about the project.

When transporting birds home, a special box will be provided if buying chicks from a hatchery but normally a trio of birds will be put into a suitably sized cardboard box with air slits in the side for ventilation. There should be shavings or straw on the bottom of the box so that the birds don't slip and are comfortable. A new regulation on animal transport became law at the beginning of the year so any poultry that is transported must be in an appropriate container with plenty of ventilation, must be secure in the vehicle and should be in the vehicle for as short a time as possible.

When introducing poultry onto your premises do take biosecurity precautions, for by having everything as clean as possible you will be more likely to keep any possible disease at bay. Change your boots and clothes and take the birds out of the box before taking them to their new accommodation; so that nothing - apart from the birds and yourself - that has physically been on another premises is taken onto the area where the birds are to be kept. This is especially important if the birds were bought at an auction where lots of birds and poultry keepers came together. Disinfect the feeders and drinkers on a regular basis as well and feed your poultry away from wild birds.