In the near future when I move house, I would like to get a few ducks and chickens.

I went to the sussex county show this year as I do every year, and saw a couple of different people selling poultry, some of these birds looked very mucky and bald in places. I wondered if the baldness was just feathers coming through? also some were very smelly

I have very little knowledge of poultry and just wondered if any of you could give me some pointers on what to look for when picking birds? and what age is best to get them?

Many thanks Emz