Chickens & Human Health Issues

[Redguitar77]

Well, I’m glad there’s not some horrible health risk that I didn’t know about. I can’t imagine keeping a whole bunch of chickens with any major health issue - I have to talk myself into taking care of my small flock when I’ve got a bad cold!

 

[aart]

140 birds in a coop not properly ventilated and maintained could certainly cause health issues for both birds and keeper. I wonder how old the aunt is, what other health issues she might have or be disposed to(smoking, asthma, etc), and how long she's been keeping that many birds???
Lots of variables to consider before jumping to conclusions.

Third or fourth hand 'information' gets garbled

we really don't know the story

That pretty much nails it.

I have never heard of a heart condition that can be directly attributed to the keeping of poultry. Lungs are a different story. Bird Fancier's Lung is a known condition, and an allergic reaction to the dust produced by birds.

Just thinking....Ailing lungs could overwork the heart as the body screams for adequate oxygen not provided by the damaged lungs, which could enlarge the heart.