Janice Houghton-Wallace looks at the pitfalls and pleasures of buying poultry Poultry keeping is still immensely popular. Yes, even with the threat of avian influenza hanging over us all!

People have been keeping poultry for generations. It is perhaps the in-built instinct of looking after some livestock that appeals or it could be the attraction of a rare pure breed and helping to further an increase in numbers that provides you with the satisfaction you are after.

Whatever your reason for wanting to buy poultry one of the most important and worthwhile tasks you can do beforehand is to do some homework. Decide why you want some birds and what they will be kept for? Are you looking for a breed that will keep you in eggs for breakfast, or one that will provide birds suitable for putting in the pot! Alternatively, you might just be after some attractive mobile garden decorations, pets for the children (or even yourself) or a quality pure breed that you will eventually be breeding a show champion from?

This decision is much more important than at first it seems because there are breeds of poultry that cater for all these niches and they are as different as a Shetland pantomime pony is to a thoroughbred Derby winner in the equine world.

The egg comes first If you are serious about eggs, then a commercial hybrid is the answer. These have been bred specifically to produce eggs on a regular basis - allowing for the off season moult of course - and will do so more efficiently than most of the pure breeds. Black Rock, Calder Ranger, Speckeldy, Warren and ISA Brown are just a few of the strains available and you can purchase as many or as few as you like. A glance through the advertisement columns of SMALLHOLDER will soon show you where it is possible to buy direct and at the very least, a telephone call will give you an idea of how much you will be expected to pay. Also, the British Egg Industry Council could probably put you in contact with a member in your area that would be willing to sell you some pullets.

Should you prefer a particular coloured egg then pure breeds are for you, although they would not provide the same quantity as hybrid layers. For mid-brown eggs go for Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, or Barred Rocks. White eggs are produced by Leghorns (although these are not easy to find these days) and Minorcas. The Light Sussex lays tinted eggs. The popular dark brown eggs are from Marans, Welsummers or Barnevelders and blue eggs are from the Araucana and Cream Legbar. Some of these breeds are also called utility breeds, that is, they not only provide eggs but are suitable as meat birds as well.

Breed clubs will help Most of the above breeds, along with many others, have their own breed clubs. If you are after a pure breed this is definitely the route to take when thinking of buying. It is also the recommended way to purchase when thinking of a pure breed pet or a trio to breed on for exhibition. Breed club secretaries will be honest with you about the suitability of the breed for your purpose and if you are convinced that their breed is the one for you, they will point you in the direction of a breeder in or close to your area. When you eventually become the proud owner of some birds it is also a good idea to become a member of the breed club. This way you will learn more about your breed, how to look after it and how to identify good quality birds.

But I have mentioned only a small number of pure breeds and there are well over a hundred different breeds of poultry in the UK, so how do you know what is available? This is where a computer and the Internet can come in very handy because the Poultry Club of Great Britain has a list of breeds, in different categories, such as Large soft feather or Bantam soft feather on its website. Some breeds are more difficult to look after than others. The soft coated Silkies for instance are immensely popular as pets and exhibition birds but a Silkie outside during a downpour is a very sorry sight indeed. Pekins are true bantams (the breed does not have a large fowl equivalent) that also make wonderful pets and are quite well behaved around the garden. All these and many others can be found on the Poultry Club website with links to breed club websites as well. The Secretary of the Poultry Club would be able to put you in touch with the breed club, should no link be available for the breed club you are after.

I would normally say that the summer agricultural shows are a good opportunity to look at the pure breeds of poultry but because of concern over the risk of avian influenza some of them are not having live poultry classes this year. There are no poultry classes at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire from Sunday 2 July - Wednesday 5 July but the poultry marquee is still an attraction with an egg show and plenty of poultry experts on hand to discuss any questions that you might have about breeds and how to keep them.

Buy from reputable sources I cannot impress enough how important it is to buy stock from breeders who understand, care for and respect their birds. If someone is willing to have you visit their home to buy the birds you can see how those birds are kept, the condition that they are in and how they are cared for. Usually under these circumstances you get what you want and most breeders will want to see a contented new owner/breeder. Do not be tempted to 'meet someone at a motorway car park' unless you have been convinced that the person's stock is healthy and pure bred. This is where contact with the breed club comes in very handy.

One of the oldest ways of buying poultry - and I have to say, one of the most unpredictable - is through poultry sales or auctions. Unless someone with poultry experience is there to help you you could be courting disaster. Sometimes birds go for very high prices just because they are classified as a pure breed or rare but unless you know your poultry they could be a very poor example of the breed. Broody hens with chicks are also a no-no. You have no idea what the chicks will actually end up like and often they are mostly males anyway. If you know the technique it is possible to sex chicks at a day-old and think about it - why would someone go to the trouble of looking after a broody for 21 days, or 28 days if she's under turkey poults or waterfowl, only to put her into a sale with her offspring as soon as they hatch?

New sale regulations Also, poultry sales lend themselves to disease risk; however, since the threat of avian influenza, tighter regulations with regard to sales and auctions have been introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Sales at gatherings are permitted so long as they take place under certain conditions that mitigated the risk of disease spread, these are: A record of all sales taking place at the event should be kept for at least 3 months, this should include: the name, address and telephone number of both the vendor and buyer and any identifying features or individual identification of the purchased bird(s).

Buyers must isolate the purchased bird(s) from any other birds (except those purchased at the same event) for at least 1 week. Any signs of ill health observed in the purchased bird(s) during this period must be reported to a veterinary surgeon and such birds must not be mixed with any other birds until the presence of an avian notifiable disease has been ruled out.

When buying birds, however it is done, never buy on impulse. Your purchase will invariably cause problems. Either you haven't suitable accommodation prepared, you find you do not have space for the particular breed, or the breed may not be the best for your needs. "They are only chickens," you might say. Yes, but if they turn out to be not what you really wanted they can end up being a burden and keeping poultry is all about the pleasure of having them around.

Recommendations for Live Poultry Sales 1. Always handle birds with care and consideration.

2. Poultry must not be tied by the neck, leg or wing.

3. Aggressive birds must be separated and caged individually.

4. Water must be available at ALL times whilst at the sale, in containers which cannot be knocked over.

5. Sick or injured birds must not be taken to a sale - they will not be accepted.

6. If a bird becomes sick or injured during the sale, it must be separated. If it is severely ill, it must be humanely slaughtered by a skilled, trained person to prevent further suffering.

7. Birds must have sufficient room in their cages to stand in their natural position.

8. Birds must be removed singly from cages, using both hands. Do not drag a bird out of a cage by its neck, wings or legs. Either use on hand to support the legs and the other hand to support the wing and breast and draw the bird out of the cage head first, or carefully support the bird with a hand over each wing and breast. Take care not to knock the bird against the cage sides.

9. Birds must only be transported in suitable containers. These must be solid-sided and allow adequate ventilation for all birds. Damaged or broken crates must not be used. Do not allow the wings, feet or heads of birds to be trapped during transportation.

10. Birds must be protected from direct sunlight, be given adequate ventilation and be sheltered from adverse weather conditions. Do not leave birds unattended in their transport containers.

REMEMBER YOU MUST COMPLY WITH THE LAW. IT IS AN OFFENCE TO CAUSE ANY UNNECESSARY SUFFERING TO ANY BIRD. YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED.

Relevant Legislation 1. The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 (SI No: 731) 2. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 (SI No: 1480) 3. The Welfare of Animals in Markets Order 1990 (SI No: 2628) (Available from HMSO Order line: 0171 873 9090).

Useful Publications 1. 1997 Code of Practice on The Welfare of Animals in Livestock Markets 2. Guidance on the Welfare of Animcals (Transport) Order 1997 3. Practical Slaughter of Poultry - A Guide for the Small Producer (1995) Humane Slaughter Association, The Old School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, Herts AL4 8AN. Tel: 01582 831919.