my husband is scared to let kids touch chicks

[milo2145]

hello everyone, newbie from tx here

I have just put in an order from ideal for 9 chicks, I have never kept chickens b4 so its going to be a steep learning curve, I made my own coop and it looks pretty good for my first try

.....anyway, my husband who is a natural worrier, is concerned about diseases the kids (age 7 and 2) will catch from handling the chicks - but to be honest this was one of the things I was looking forward to most of all.

have you ever known anyone catch chick diseases?, obviously I will get them to wash their hands afterwards.

any other precautions or advice

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

After 18 years of dealing with birds, I have yet to contract a single disease. And that's "possibly" washing hands every time. There are some diseases that can be transmitted between species, but as long as hand-washing is meticulous, you and your family should be safe.

Your children will be fine other than thinking the chicks are adorably cute and that you must get more...

 

[canada-goose]

I haven't ever gotten sick from chickens (although now that I've said that, I probably will!). If you wash your hands after touching them, you'll be fine. Properly cared for chickens are very clean and healthy.

 

[Chuckles1330]

My rule is wash hands before handling chicks (protects the chicks) and after (protects the children).

 

[easttxchick]

First of all

from a fellow Texan.

Secondly, I handle my birds a lot and haven't had any problems. Of course, just make sure you wash your hands after handling the chickens and all should be well. I DID however, get pecked in the face by an exuberant Barred Rock chick a few days ago-I'd be more concerned about that with kids than disease!

 

[LarryPQ]

Make sure the kids don't eat the chicken poop, and they will be fine. Washing hands is a good idea, always.

Tell your husband: "it's just dirt, and dirt don't hurt"

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I've had all kinds of indoor & outdoor birds for over 1/2 a century. Never got sick from my birds. DW has had no problems either. They are safe.

 

[schmije]

We've never had any problems here. We always wash our hands after handling the chickens - which is often.

 

[Andi]

I agree. Just get them into the habit of washing their hands. They'll be fine. If chickens were so dangerous to keep, how come they are so popular and people have been keeping chickens for generations.

I wonder if its because of the connection between raw eggs and salmonella? The chicks are far from raw eggs.

Don't worry and enjoy them. Look around BYC and you'll discover many of us crazy chicken people that bring birds in the house and let them on couches and stuff.

 

[jeremy]

Do you plan on housing all 9 birds in that coop? Have you check to make sure if the demensions will be able to sustain a flock of that size?