chicken diseases

[chkinut]

hi guys. i was wondering if u could help me out here. we are getting 4 standard hens and 2 bantams soon. i've wanted chickens FOREVER and hubby is willing. but he's worried that they could carry diseases cuz a co-worker said he knew someone who died of a disease from a chicken. of course i'm kinda rolling my eyes here

and i'm not concerned....but could someone tell me something so i can help hubbies uncertainties? thanks!

 

[gritsar]

DH's late father was the "chicken doctor" for what is now Tyson. DH grew up on this farm when it was a commercial chicken farm. Every single farm around us is a chicken farm. I'm trying to think of a single person I have known or read about that has died of a disease related to chickens. Nope, can't think of one.

The only diseases I can think of related to chickens are histoplasmosis: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001082.htm which you can get from alot of sources, not just chickens. The common housecat comes to mind.
And avian flu: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007263.htm Not having been shown to be an issue with a backyard flock.

 

[dawg53]

I suggest using just good ole common sense like you would cleaning up after any other pet/animal ie...dog or cat etc...