Salmonella questions?

So we have 3 hens ( we got our 1st egg today!!) but we let them free range in the garden and my boyfriend has said he didn't know the amount they pood before we got them as it's everywhere and is saying he's been told recently they carry salmonella and were having a baby in march. He said if they poo on the grass we can't let our baby play in the garden then, so he wants to get rid of the hens. Is this true?

You can get salmonella by touching the poop then wiping on your skin/mouth.

Like so many things out there this has just barely a tiny kernel of truth in it, but is it tiny.

You will sometimes see posts on here where people talk about how much safer our eggs are than commercial eggs as far as salmonella or other things go. Commercial eggs are washed before we get them, not so when we collect out eggs. Salmonella is in the environment. It’s possible our eggs could have some on them. It’s possible you can get it by petting baby chicks or adult chickens. It’s possible you can get it if you let a pet dog or cat outside, then pet it when it comes back in. A lot of things are possible. It does not mean it’s going to happen all that often. It’s possible a piece of space junk will fall out of the sky and hit your home this afternoon. It’s possible you could be involved in a fender bender the next time you get in a car. How much are you going to let those things influence how you live your life?

Not every chicken has salmonella, a lot don’t. For thousands of years people have been raising free-range chickens in farms and even in towns and cities. Their kids work and play outside, as do the adults. Yes, at times some people that have free ranging chickens get salmonella. At times people that do not have free ranging chickens get salmonella. Not that many in either can but it can possibly happen.

We live in a society where it has become zero risk. If a piece of space junk might fall out of the sky we need to move into a cave so we are protected. If we night have a fender bender we can’t drive. We can’t have pet dogs or cats if you let them outside because of what they might bring back in with them. You can’t grow your own food or keep chickens for eggs because of what might be in the environment. I take certain precautions, like washing my hands and food when I consider it appropriate, but I refuse to live my life in fear like that.

That said, it is not pleasant for a kid to play in chicken poop. You might need to erect some kind of fencing, especially if your yard is small or the chickens like to poop on your porch or patio, at least until you can teach the kid not to automatically put everything it can into its mouth. But then are you going to let a kid that young play outside without supervision. Some people would call that child neglect. Salmonella from chicken poop is not the only risk. How far do you want to take this stuff?

So my baby if he touches it and touches his mouth like babies do he will get sick. I'm so sad, we've only had the hens since about june and like i said we had our first egg today which was exciting. Is there anything i can do? I'd like to let them free range still, but he says unless we build some area that they can only go in and not get into the garden then he wants them gone so our baby can enjoy the garden in the summer. We only have a small garden so i don't see that being an option....

Some people kiss there chickens and don't get it.Although be careful because salmonella will kill a baby.

My chickens will eat from our hands and only one of the 3 will allow you to pick her up but thats as much contact as we get lol they prefer to stay at dash away quick distance and watch unfortunetely as we'd love to cuddle them, but no, they don't like it. I'll see what happens, maybe he will come around and build a place they can use in the spring when the baby is born.

If you really want to keep them, keep them. If building them their own run is an option that will give them their own space and and your baby space to play. The typical recommended outdoor space is 10 square feet per bird. Taking advantage of vertical space with various levels will help keep them occupied as well.

Yeah......Do not Kiss the Chickens.........Keep your hand clean after dealing with the Birds and keep the Baby away from the areas they poop........Or get rid of the Birds......Or get them tested for Salmonella........


Cheers!

Babies and very old people are more susceptible to all pathogens since their immune systems are undeveloped in the first case, and wearing down in the second. You want to make sure they wash hands after handling chickens at the very least. I would keep a baby away from any contact with chicken poop.

Other than that, salmonella is a generally overblown concern. Like e-coli, it is present in the guts of many animals, but it's not going to be a problem to healthy individuals that have good hand washing habits.

azygous said:

Babies and very old people are more susceptible to all pathogens since their immune systems are undeveloped in the first case, and wearing down in the second. You want to make sure they wash hands after handling chickens at the very least. I would keep a baby away from any contact with chicken poop.

Other than that, salmonella is a generally overblown concern. Like e-coli, it is present in the guts of many animals, but it's not going to be a problem to healthy individuals that have good hand washing habits.

Click to expand...

Actually not over blown......A serious risk as you stated, to babies and the elderly.........I would never take the risk........



Cheers!