Can a germaphobe raise backyard chickens?

[Folly's place]

People who are immune suppressed, as after an organ transplant, or serious chemotherapy, for example, likely should NOT have a chicken coop, or at least go nowhere near it. Inhaling the dust out there, even in small amounts, won't be good. The right house dog or cat, managed very well, will work for them, but chickens, not so good.
Mary

 

[trumpeting_angel]

It's good to read these tips as I'm on immune suppression treatments! Thinking of getting one of those big Purelle dispensers ... or three!

Hand washing is actually better! But some Purelle in the meantime won’t hurt.

 

[333113]

People who are immune suppressed, as after an organ transplant, or serious chemotherapy, for example, likely should NOT have a chicken coop, or at least go nowhere near it. Inhaling the dust out there, even in small amounts, won't be good. The right house dog or cat, managed very well, will work for them, but chickens, not so good.
Mary

Mary is right, you will want to be careful! If you can't or don't want to give up your chickens during chemotherapy, do what my friend Jenna did, and ask a friend (in this case, me) to tend them for the duration. I was happy to find a way to help her!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

People who are immune suppressed, as after an organ transplant, or serious chemotherapy, for example, likely should NOT have a chicken coop, or at least go nowhere near it. Inhaling the dust out there, even in small amounts, won't be good. The right house dog or cat, managed very well, will work for them, but chickens, not so good.
Mary

Yep.....my sister is waiting (and waiting) for a kidney and her transplant team has already expressed concern about her farm life (horses, goats, chickens). As it is, close contact with the birds has been nixed...which is why I do the brooding of new birds for her....they are barnyard birds once they move to her place snd kept far enough from the house to satisfy the docs, but she can see them from her window.

 

[HopeSprings]

I'm not on chemotherapy. It's an infusion every 8 weeks to keep the rheumatoid arthritis in my spine from acting up. I'll use a mask when cleaning the coop, and, of course, wash my hands.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I've always wanted to raise backyard chickens (I'd like to keep 4 or 5 layers), but as someone with an aversion to vomiting, the thought of salmonella scares me a little. Google backyard chickens and you'll get a bunch of articles on how backyard chickens got a bunch of families sick over the last few years.

Should I be OCD about cleanliness? What are ways to reduce the spread of illness?

Welcome to Backyard Chickens I have always been immune suppressed but grew up on farm I handled the chickens and my horses always washed hands up to elbows after chores sat in the garden eating peas, beans and carrots as fast as I could not dead or sick from them have chickens again now

 

[DellaMyDarling]

It's good to read these tips as I'm on immune suppression treatments! Thinking of getting one of those big Purelle dispensers ... or three!

Hand sanitizer DOES NOT kill salmonella, amongst a few other nasties.
Soap and water is considered the only proven method of cleaning hands after touching animals, animal waste, etc.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/should-you-use-hand-sanitizer-770727

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjANegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw0atrDcs8PMdq-RmxY-m8ud

 

[Willowspirit]

I'm not on chemotherapy. It's an infusion every 8 weeks to keep the rheumatoid arthritis in my spine from acting up. I'll use a mask when cleaning the coop, and, of course, wash my hands.

I would recommend a very high quality mask and gloves. Gloves are cheap and you don't want to be handling chicken poo. And wash.

 

[llombardo]

I rinse down the run area and all poop I see every night. I turn the bedding in the coop every night. I change the water every night. It's become so routine that it takes 15 minutes with the hose now. I even do it in the rain.

 

[333113]

I use a mask, and I am just allergic. It makes a huge difference!