Chickens ate rat poop..salmonella concern

[Ladybug199]

My chickens definitely ate rat poop over the course of a month while trying to get a rat problem under control. I heard this is how most chickens contract salmonella. Is this true? Are wild rats carrying salmonella and spreading to backyard chickens this way? If they are infected (how would I even know?) can I still safely eat the eggs?

thanks so much!

 

[azygous]

Chickens probably eat rat and mice droppings far more often than we realize. Most of the time, healthy immune systems will protect the chickens from becoming sick. If they do happen to get sick, then you will suspect salmonella, but it's really an outside chance. In that case, you would treat the sick chicken with an antibiotic.

Eggs cooked should present no problem, but I would discard the eggs of any sick chicken you are treating for suspected salmonella because of the egg withdrawal period for the antibiotic as well as the suspected salmonella.

 

[Ladybug199]

Ok thanks that’s very helpful. I was also wondering if it would actually be obvious if they were sick with salmonella. I’m a newbie with chickens.

 

[azygous]

Don't confuse chickens carrying salmonella in their intestines with actually falling ill from it. In fact, you likely have a scant amount of salmonella in your intestines right now along with other bacteria you don't really want to know about, and your immune system is keeping them from multiplying and overwhelming your system. Most people who get sick are either babies or old people or someone that has eaten food contaminated with so much salmonella, they end up sick from it because the number of bacteria overwhelms their system. They throw up and have diarrhea and cramps and run a fever.

Chickens that have a low functioning immune system might not be able to fight off the bacteria and they will start to act sick. Watch for a lethargic chicken, hanging out by the fence or facing a wall away from the others, tail held low and flat and feathers fluffed up. They may have very runny poop and won't feel like eating. If you see that, start that chicken on amoxicillin or penicillin.

 

[Ladybug199]

Awesome thanks again!!