A non-chicken resident wants to rent my chicken for bingo -- Q about biosecurity

[KatGold]

Hi Everyone,

This is a new one on me. Someone in my daughter's college class lives in some sort of co-op. I haven't seen it, but I suppose they have some kind of a backyard. They want to do a Chicken Sh*t Bingo (I'm guessing for a fundraiser) and want to rent a chicken.

I'm more than delighted to help, but I have concerns about biosecurity. Namely, I'm not sure what measures I need to request. I suppose I should ask them to mop the area with bleach, twice--the day before and the morning of. What else should I consider?

Also, if this is a bad idea, please tell me! I don't want to bring something bad into my henhouse.

Thank you!!

 

[K0k0shka]

I wouldn't give my chickens to anybody. Especially now with avian flu going around, my chickens don't leave the premises, and no outside people are allowed on the premises. I have separate clothes and shoes I use when entering my run and coop. Deaths have been reported in my county and I'm just not taking any risks. I wouldn't do it if I were you. You have no idea who's gonna be at that party, where they've been, etc. If it was something more minor, then that's different, but this thing is deadly, it spreads fast, and has no cure, so.... Nope.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

With bird flu going around, i really wouldn’t risk it.

 

[WingItRanch]

Here's another thought... what if you offer to create a bingo board at your place and "live stream" it? That way they can still have their chicken s#!& bingo but you won't be exposing your chicken to any unknown bacteria.

I've heard of cow pie bingo but never with chickens!

 

[gillenwater-farms]

Id worry about bird flu as well as all the stress being separated from its home and flock and put into that situation would cause.

 

[AntiqueB]

My immediate thought was about the stress of being away from the flock. I like @WingItRanch 's idea about livestreaming. Safer all around.

 

[K0k0shka]

Id worry about bird flu as well as all the stress being separated from its home and flock and put into that situation would cause.

Definitely, that would be one stressed out chicken. Not just from being away from the flock, but also being in a strange new place, and handled by strangers.

To add to that, I would not trust other people handling my chicken, especially people who have no chicken experience. They'd have to know how to hold a chicken properly so as not to injure it, how to subdue it safely if it freaks out, etc.

There's just too much potential for something going wrong.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Definitely, that would be one stressed out chicken. Not just from being away from the flock, but also being in a strange new place, and handled by strangers.

To add to that, I would not trust other people handling my chicken, especially people who have no chicken experience. They'd have to know how to hold a chicken properly so as not to injure it, how to subdue it safely if it freaks out, etc.

There's just too much potential for something going wrong.

I definitely agree, some people can really mis-handle chickens, and they (the chicken) could potentially get some injuries from being roughly handled

 

[KatGold]

Oh gosh, I should have been more specific about the handling of her. There is NO WAY I would send her out into the world alone! I was going to bring a couple and handle them myself.

I love the idea of livestreaming it. Fantastic! I'll recommend that. I think I'm okay with one person coming into the backyard to do the camerawork, maybe. He can wear my husband's backyard shoes or step in bleach before entering my yard.

Yes, we also have avian flu in my county. So far, great advice, but my ears are still open if anyone else has anything to say.

Thank you.

 

[GlobeBeth]

I wouldn't give my chickens to anybody. Especially now with avian flu going around, my chickens don't leave the premises, and no outside people are allowed on the premises. I have separate clothes and shoes I use when entering my run and coop. Deaths have been reported in my county and I'm just not taking any risks. I wouldn't do it if I were you. You have no idea who's gonna be at that party, where they've been, etc. If it was something more minor, then that's different, but this thing is deadly, it spreads fast, and has no cure, so.... Nope.

Hi! I'm Beth Teitell, a Boston Globe reporter writing about backyard chickens and bird flu. I'd love to talk! Do you have time this afternoon by any chance?