10 Health Precautions For Backyard Chicken Owners

Great job. Great info especially for a person new to chickens. Since we have our flock quarantined because of Bio-Security we don't allow anyone other than those who normally work with the chickens to be anywhere near them. They can watch from a distance.

I read the article on Healthcare for chickens and keepers, it was great.

The article was dead on with what we need to do as chicken keepers.

I'm hoping to get my sink installed in the run.

This covers a lot of the basic precautions for keeping chickens. Great job! I would only add that goggles are very helpful for keeping dust (especially chicken poop contaminated dust) out of your eyes. Not only do they make a barrier to roaming dust, but they’ll keep you from accidentally forgetting about that chicken poop on your fingers, and rubbing your eyes with them! Especially on hot summer days when everything is so dry. Keep up the great work!

Thank you for writing and publishing this vital article.

I take medication that suppresses my immune system so I am very careful around my chickens. You were spot on with your advice!

Excellent source of information not only due to COVID-19 but as a whole.

Awesome article, I have asthma and I took away a lot of great info! Thank you!

The first year raising chickens I made the mistake of cleaning out my chicken coop unmasked. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days with an IV do to farmer's lung. Not fun!

Although this article is from 2012, the information is especially timely during this time of the COVID-19 virus. I had to be tested for corona virus but it turned out to be a respiratory infection from handling and having baby chicks indoors during cold weather. I was the only one cleaning the brooder area. Wash hands, yes. Wear a mask. Change clothes and shoes. Illness can spread like wildfire through a flock but too many people are not aware of the potential problems for those with respiratory illness or compromised immunity. Excellent advice!

Thanks for writing this. As a cancer survivor, I knew I needed to take extra precautions but needed this article to help me understand the specifics.

Nicely done! Something everyone should be doing regardless. Thank you!

Very well written and informative and something we all need. I'm not immunosuppressed but a family member is and in my absence, she may have to feed and water my chicks. Good to know this. Again thank you.

I have a few things that suppress my immune system. I just love chicken antics and fresh eggs are a huge bonus. They make me so happy when they come running to greet me and get so excited.

Thank you for providing an excellent, fact filled article. Even people with healthy immune systems should practice your advice of wearing a mask and practicing bio security in their coop.
I developed organic toxic dust syndrome a number of years ago after going to work in what was considered a high bio security hog concern. I'd worked in hog barns for years and never had a problem but it put me down fast and ended my time in the barns.
I didn't think about the chickens causing me any problems but within 2 weeks I was having severe pain in my legs and back, wanted to go to sleep by 6pm and just felt bla. My husband finally told me to use my nebulizer and do a lung treatment and start wearing a mask around the chickens. Bingo, leg and back pain gone. I'm still tired but that will pass in a few days. I have a number of auto immune issues and a rare disease I have to watch closely that I've probably flared.
Diseases from barns or coops are nothing to mess with. The authors recommendations to wear a mask, have designated clothing and shoes for the coop should be mandatory for anyone entering your coop. Bio security is vital for both your health and the health of your flock.
Thank you again for such an important and well written article.

Fabulous article chock full of very good tips to help you stay healthy ( and help keep your flock healthy too) while enjoying your chickens!

I liked your post about the biosecurity. What it means and who it can effect. Also I liked the mention of using sand under roosts. Good info. Thanks

I do the hand and egg washing and the "coop" shoes, but never thought to change my clothes. Will from now on.

Thanks for posting this. Very well written

This article is much needed and was a huge reminder that I need to be more consistent with my practices. I fail to wear a mask 75% of the time I'm in the coop and my asthma symptoms have been showing up more recently. I thought holding my breath or slipping my shirt up over my mouth while racking the coop would help but it doesn't. From here on out my mask will be close by my boots so I don't forget to put it on.