Has your flock gotten you sick?

[Lbittner]

Has anyone gotten ill from their backyard flock? I’ve had hens for 5 years now. My 7 year old son became ill about 1.5 weeks ago and tested positive for Astrovirus, campylobacter, and EPEC (e.coli). Having contact with chickens is listed as a possible source for 2 of these illnesses. Now he does have immune system issues due to a medication he’s on but this seems excessive. Plus he doesn’t clean the coop, handle eggs, or feeds the chickens. There may be an occasional pet here and there. So I’m wondering if healthy backyard chickens can get people sick from a quick pet on the back or if this is all just horrible luck. What’s your experience?

 

[GodLovesU]

I’ve never gotten sick from my chickens.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Never gotten sick from them either

 

[Butt Nugget Farm]

Never in the 20+ years of having fowls

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Never. Sounds like his compromised immune system makes him vulnerable. That's too bad. I wear nitrile gloves when I clean my poop boards daily, and often wear a mask also unless it's so cold doing so causes my glasses to fog. I don't pat, cuddle, snuggle, handle or kiss my chickens.

 

[coach723]

15 years in and I've never gotten sick from my birds. If it's dry and dusty I do wear a mask when raking/digging in the coop or run. I clean the coop daily and wipe surfaces down to keep dust down as much as I can. I clean with white vinegar. I also process birds and do home necropsies, incubate and hatch, never had any issue. I follow simple, common sense practices, same as any careful person would with any animal. Having a compromised immune system can change things a lot. I was very careful for a while after being on prednisone for a period of time, as that can suppress the immune system. I don't handle my birds much either, only if necessary to examine or treat something. They are happier that way anyhow, and still come see me. Go ahead and try to snuggle or hug an Egyptian Fayoumi (if you can catch them), you will go deaf from the screeching.

 

[2 Acres]

Never. Sounds like his compromised immune system makes him vulnerable. That's too bad. I wear nitrile gloves when I clean my poop boards daily, and often wear a mask also unless it's so cold doing so causes my glasses to fog. I don't pat, cuddle, snuggle, handle or kiss my chickens.

I kiss all my hens on their combs when I put them to bed each night.