Top Tip.Where to start.
Your guide on where to start, how and all you need to know on starting up with your birds for beginners.
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Why keep, breed and show poultry, waterfowl and game/fancy birds and what comes with the hobby.
The reasons, what you get from it.
Keeping, breeding and showing poultry and birds is a wonderful hobby and experiance which can be enjoyed by anyone at what ever age. It is a continous learning experaince which is usally fun but as in all cases when dealing with livestock there can be some problems which arise which are not so fun or pleasant so you have to be prepared to expect these and know how to respond approiately. But naturally there are always positive and negative points about things in most peopls views and you have to look beyond these to the main factor.
Before keeping you start keeping poultry you need to look at the following points as it is not all as simple as it looks and these should be considered before you get your first birds.
Commitment and Responisbilites.
If you decide to keep poultry or are un-sure you need to be sure you understand the huge commitment you make to the birds when you purchase them and the extra responisbilities that come with it.
Time.
The more time you can spend with your birds and caring for them the better as they will be healthier and happier. When your birds are healthy and happy you will get more out of them in means of production (i.e eggs) and in terms of enjoyment. But putting time in to care for your birds is not just something you can do every so ofton they need daily care if not more to make sure they are ok and to provide them with what they need. If your birds become ill it is your responisbility to take them to vet or get treatment for them, it is your responisbility to clean the birds out to prevent build of dirt and bacteria. To provide them with fresh water, food, a balanced diet and everything else they need, this all takes time and you need to make sure you have enough when to start and can do it all the time. Not just a case of in the summer when the wheather is nice and warm but in the winter when the wheather is colder so it is not so pleasant (can become slightly depressing) as you get frozen water and muddy pens. This takes up more time to make sure the chickens are well cared for so think about this first.
The Correct conditions.
Do you have the right conditions for them. Do you have enough room? the birds need room to excersize so they don't become fat and to keep them occupied so they don't pick on other birds or start feather pecking. Do you have enough light, the birds need light to see to eat and drink and the more hours of light you provide them with the more eggs you will get back. These are all important factors that need to be looked into first as proper housing is essential for healthy birds.
£ Money. £
You will need to make sure you can afford to keep poultry before you start it may not be such an expensive hobby as some others but in many cases more expensive and you will have continous costs which need to be considered. First of all there is buying the birds, then buying there house, and main equipment, then there is the charge of water, feed, and bedding, possibly electric bills if they have artificial lightening ( these are all continous costs). Then if they become ill there may be vets bills, medicines and treatment costs. You might want to give them a tonic/supplement to make sure they are in tip top condition this will cost you aswell and it all adds up so how will you pay for it?
Some possible ideas:
*By selling the birds you breed and charging enough to cover costs.?
*By Selling eggs?
Security. 
Many people keep their birds on land which is not always that close to them or other people. Some breeds can be worth a lot especialy if they are rare or of show quality so if a thief has the oppurtunity he may well grab it so keep your birds locked up or secure, where ever they are, even if at home.
Finally....
So if you decide to keep poultry make sure you are prepared, can answer the above questions, know what equipment you need and have it, how to care for them, what a healthy bird looks like and more before you purchase any birds as you don't want to get caught of guard!
Most of all Poultry Keeping, breeding and showing should be a pleasure and we hope you find it that way. If not then maybe you should think about why you are doing it as there is no point if you find it a chore.
Perswading Parents, neighbours, family....
You may want some poultry or birds but do your parents, friends, family or neighbours wanr you to have them? Just because you may want them may not mean that everyone else wants some and has the same passion for them as you. You cannot just ignore their comments or points/views as they could prevent you from getting them or impose restrictions which would not be wanted.
if you have neighbours living near by you need to find out with them if it is ok, explain to them what would be happening, give them details, warn them that they may make some noise and see if it is ok. You cannot simply go and buy some because of they complain to the Council you may be forced to get rid of them. If they are not keen then you could try comprimising and say that you would keep them inside or let them out after a certain time and so on but if they are completley not happy with the ideal then you will have to find some where else to keep them as it simply will not be feisable.
If your neighbours don't mind you must rember still tp keep noise and everything to a minuim else they may not always be so happy about it. If you have agreed to certain conditions make sure you stick to them as a simple complainent could change it all.
If your parents are not happy with it or other people then you need to be mature and look at the negative and positive points. Try and explain to them why you want the birds, that you will look after them and how and reassure them that you want the birds and know how you would look after them and afford to keep them aswell as comprimise on the negative points.
You may need to prove and show your parents or family that you can and will look after your birds so maybe take on a new responisbility of say looking after another pet or doing a job daily to show them, they then may become more confident that you will look after them.
What ever the decision rember that you are probably not the only person in your situation and that you can still learn about poultry and enjoy talking and having fun with poultry keepers and enthusistas on sites like this one!
If you have had any ideas on this topics or methods or tips that we could include why not email us at poultry_talk_tk@hotmail.co.uk and we may be able to include it to help other poultry keepers or people who want to keep poultry and birds.
The Basics and what you need to start with.
Housing/pens.
You birds ideally need to be
Starting with Poultry.
So you want to keep some poultry but are unsure where to start and which breed(s)/type(s) you want to keep.
Well you need to look at:
*How much room you have and facilities,
*Time you will be able to give to keeping them and the birds.
*What you want them for, Pets, to lay eggs, breed and then sell..
*How many you have room for.
The options:
Chickens and Bantams....
If you have limited space then chickens or bantams are a good choice as they need less room and can adapt to being kept inside or in smaller spaces better than other types of poultry. You do not need a pond. They also lay plenty of eggs and on a regular basis (note this does depend on the breed and the amount of daylight they have). They can be kept indoors or in a ark or enclosure. You do not have to clean out any ponds or maintain pond areas so are easier to care for and take less time to look after generally. They can be kept as pets and their are many small and docile natured breeds. There are hybirds which will lay you plenty of eggs, and many other breeds to breed/keep. if you keep bantams then you will be able to keep a few more possibly because they are smaller.
Hybirds.
Hybirds are breeds which have been produced just to meet the needs of today'scommercial market and to satisfy the consumer. There are a few different breeds with some new ones being added each year which are being bred to meet the changing market. They are not bred/kept for their beauty, do not live such a long life as other pure poultry breeds and are much cheaper to buy. If it is for eggs or meat then hybirds are the choice for vaule for money. Hybirds though can be good for beignners are they will please you with lots of eggs or if you want them for meat will provide a nice bird. They are also in some ways easier to find to buy and cheaper. We have not listed suitable breeds but there are link's in the Link's Directory to suppliers/hatchers of hybreeds and it all depends on wheather you want them for meat or a certain colour of eggs.
Below are a few breeds which might be suitable for the beginner and a little bit about each of them:
Poland.
This breed comes in many attractive colours and have a striking crest. They come in a large fowl and Bantam form. There are also frizzled feathered types aswell as smooth. Lay reasonably well. They are quite docile due to the fact that they don't have such good sight as other beeds due to their large crest. Note though, due to their crest they need to be kept indoor or if free ranging make sure they have access to a shelter or a large indoor area so they can keep dry in the elements as their crest should not become wet.
Silkie.
The Silkie is available in Large Fowl and Bantam form and come in a few different colours. They are extremley popular and well known because of their looks and they make excellent broodies. They have unusal feathering which is very soft and are naturally docile which makes them ideal for children. They go broody easily so are useful for that purpose which is why many people keep them. They do not lay many eggs and should be kept indoors or only outside when the wheather is dry due to their feathers.
Pekin.
The Pekin is a True Bantam with feathered feet. Come in a huge selection of Standard and non-standard colours with new ones being created all the time. It is a very docile and friendly breed. It lays a few small cream eggs and ofton goes broody. They are ideal for children because of their nature and make a good exhibition bird as there is plently of competition! They should be kept inside or free ranged when the ground is dry to keep their feathered feet dry.
Hybirds.
Hybirds are breeds which have been produced just to meet the needs of today'scommercial market and to satisfy the consumer. There are a few different breeds with some new ones being added each year which are being bred to meet the changing market. They are not bred/kept for their beauty, do not live such a long life as other pure poultry breeds and are much cheaper to buy. If it is for eggs or meat then hybirds are the choice for vaule for money. Hybirds though can be good for beignners are they will please you with lots of eggs or if you want them for meat will provide a nice bird. They are also in some ways easier to find to buy and cheaper.
Waterfowl and Wildfowl....
If you have have facilities for a pond or something which you can let the birds have a splash around in and immerse themselves then they can be great characters and very entertaining. Depending on the breed they need a little room to forage around but are great at eating slugs and eating all those garden beasts which makes them a great gardeners friend unlike chickens. Most people think ducks are messy and will create mud everywhere but it all depends on the size of the duck and how much room you provide for them. Ducks eggs can vary in colour from white to black. They have a shorter laying season generally then chickens/bantams but there are a few exceptions. You will need to think about the extra time it will take to clean out artificial washing areas for the ducks as they need to be cleaned and refilled as ofton as possible.
Geese are not suitable for people starting with waterfowl as they need large areas to graze, can become agressive and need more room generally. If you did want to start with these then there are a few smaller breeds which are more suitable. Visit the Domestic Waterfowl Club Of Great Britian for more information.
Wildfowl are not really suitable for beginners as they need large enclosures with suitable ponds which are secure as they are not used to being shut in each night. They can also be very easily frightened and do not recommend these for beginners. Why not visit the British Waterfowl ASsscioation's website for more information.
Below are a few breeds which might be suitable for the beginner and a little bit about each of them:
Call Duck.
The Call Duck could be considered by some as not a good beginner breed and there is some truth to this as in they are known to be a difficult to incubate. The ducks are very noisy with a sharp quack the drakes have a soft quack. They are very friendly, great characters and come in a wide range of colours to suit all tastes. They are extremley addictive and once you have one colour you will want more. Because of their size they don't need so much room to roam around and a sandpit is ideal to use if you have no pond and they will be just as pleased with it. Ideal for children with their fun nature and small size making them easy to handle.
Campbell.
The Campbell is an old but common breed. It lays at least 300 eggs per year and is a good reliable breed. Not really suitiable for children though. It comes in 3 different colours, khaki, White and Dark. It is not suitable for meat production as it is a Light breed but if you are looking for a breed to produce you plently of duk eggs then this has to be one of them!
Orpington.
The Orpington Duck is a multi-purpose bird. It lays quite a few eggs and can be used for meat aswell. Larger than the campbell and are a friendly attractive duck.
Guniea Fowl.
Guinea Fowl can be very flightly and not very tame. They are not recommend for beginners but if you would like to find out all about them then visit our profile for them here....
Quail.
Japanese Quail are recommened for beginners. Japanese Quail are good egg layers and the dual purpose type can be used for meat aswell.
We will soon be covering Quail in more depth.
Why not visit these sites for more information:
Further information and links panel.
Email us.
Have any queries, questions or feeback that you would like to contact us about please email us at: poultry_talk_tk@hotmail.co.uk
Discussion.
If you wish to discuss this on the forums, ask questions, post adverts, ask or offer advice or anything else that is related to poultry then the General Poultry Forum is the place to do it. 
Go to Poultry Forum
Related Links:
For more Link's visit the Link's Directory.
For a guide on General Care click here to continue to the General Care page....
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