Are chicks making me sick?

[ChickensAreSweet]

Salmonella, e.coli, oh ya..... you need to make sure you wash wash wash wash. They live in their poo. Their dust is dander and poo dust. It gets everywhere!

After I clean the broader coop, I wash up, and then shower, and change clothes, EVERY TIME!

x2 I always shower after going to the coop and cleaning it, which is daily for me. I think I am coated in dust otherwise.

 

[enola]

I can not understand why people kiss chickens....... Chickens are FILTHY!!!!!

 

[ryanhodapp]

Peppers--I would go see your doctor and see what they think. I have had Giardia before. I would feel better then worse. Just as you are describing.

I would hate to think it is any allergy.

Keep us posted.

 

[prepperchickens]

Oh my goodness, I was initially a biology major with a focus on virology and I understood chickens were vectors of any diseases but I didn't realize how severe a problem was, or that it extended beyond overcrowded dirty torture farms.
I will refrain from kissing my chicks, no matter how tempting it is with their little fluffy heads.
I hope it's isn't giardia, because the way my healthcare plan works I could be dead before I get into my new primary care doctor!
we are going to start building the cool soon, looks like we need to put a lot of effort into designing it to be as sanitary as possible.
So with these diseases so rampant, how does one keep the bloom on the egg without contaminating everything? Just don't wash it off until ready to cook?

 

[DigMyChicks]

Love my chickens but wouldn't kiss them.

 

[enola]

Oh my goodness, I was initially a biology major with a focus on virology and I understood chickens were vectors of any diseases but I didn't realize how severe a problem was, or that it extended beyond overcrowded dirty torture farms.
I will refrain from kissing my chicks, no matter how tempting it is with their little fluffy heads.
I hope it's isn't giardia, because the way my healthcare plan works I could be dead before I get into my new primary care doctor!
we are going to start building the cool soon, looks like we need to put a lot of effort into designing it to be as sanitary as possible.
So with these diseases so rampant, how does one keep the bloom on the egg without contaminating everything? Just don't wash it off until ready to cook?

I very seldom wash eggs. Dirty eggs are cooked and fed back to the chickens.

When building a coop, just aim for easy to clean, keep your litter dry and make sure you have adequate ventilation. This should keep both you and your chickens happy.

 

[WthrLady]

I don't have a problem with the eggs. My nest boxes are regularly cleaned out and sprayed with oxine. I use washable nesting materials.

I leave the bloom on the egg. Dirty eggs are fed back to the critters. Clean eggs are put on the skelter on the kitchen wall. Before I use an egg, I wash it with mild bleach solution and warm water. Every once in a while I will wipe down the skelter.

My egg house shoes NEVER come in the house, or leave the property for that matter, and occasionally walk them through an oxine scrub.

 

[teslachick]

i dont know but, i am just not started but i will update you about my sytem.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I wash my eggs in Egg wash powder (powdered bleach) with the warmest water I can stand, and then refrigerate promptly. You have to use warm water not cold I have read, and also have to refrigerate after washing.

Just personal preference on the washing- there are many on BYC who don't wash eggs as noted above with the others' posts. Frankly nature makes it so that the baby chick has a chance of being born without infection and thus washing the bloom off makes the eggs go bad faster even in the fridge. So the egg is designed to be perfect in every way for cleanliness.

But I do like to know they have been washed before boiling my eggs and am not one to want to wash eggs right before cooking, so I do it beforehand. Also I give eggs to family members, so it is nice to know they are ready to go when they are at the door asking for eggs.

Do what makes you happy LOL.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

I personally never wash my eggs. Even if there is a bit of poop on them, I'll usually still eat them. A lot of poop, however, I will throw away. And I only boil completely poop - free eggs. And I only give clean eggs to family and friends.