Children + chickens...advice from a parent please.

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
You said a mouthful right there and nailed it...

 

[claud]

This study doesn't mention chickens but I think it's still relevant:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/08/020828062738.htm

Make the kids wash their hands after handling birds, don't have them around while cleaning the coop(dust sometimes contains pathogens), and be careful about the chickens pecking the youngsters(they like shiny things - like eyes which freaks some people out but it's just a curiousity thing).
Other than that they will be fine.

 

[Sammimom]

I'm a vet, and you can imagine how many different species of animals we've had in our home! My kids have never gotten sick from any of them, but I did instill some excellent hand washing techniques prior to eating. Just supervise very young children around the coop. My kids got sickness from their buddies at preschool, not foster kittens, garden caught snakes, or chickens.

 

[Miss Red]

I was literally raised on horses and in barns, doing chores from the time I understood how to gather eggs without breaking them. I haven't been sick in ten years, from my animals at least, and have virtually no allergies. I say go for it. My best friends expecting her first child in three months, and she has every farm animal known to man. Little Kalee will be exposed to EVERYTHING from goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, horses, and chickens.... so long as they wash their hands and don't eat the poop although I lived when I tried it, trust me they'll learn the first time poop is disgusting.

 

[Mattemma]

I don't think it would be a major issue if you take basic cleanliness into account. I am not perfect and the kids have yet to get sick due to the animals.

Years ago when I was reading up on every vaccine related article in print there was research into what they called the *dirt vaccine* I kid you not! The research showed that our over clean environments was leading to an incease rate of asthma and allergies. They we studying the effects of a vaccine that exposed people to things in the dirt,which in turn lessened the asthma and allergies.

A little messiness can be good.All depends on what you are exposed too and how well your body is working to fight it off. I love the pictures in this thread!

 

[Julie08]

I installed an automatic hand sanatizer on barn door, squirt in squirt out. Of course no substitue for good handwashing but it doesnt hurt either,

 

[Gonzo]

Quote:
Ahhhh! Look at those BIG blue eyes! How cute! Kennedy has big blue eyes like that, and at that age I told her when she was older, the boys would come a running! She walked into the kitchen, and wanted to know where the boys were!

Back to the post.... it is a proven fact that children that are not exposed to hardly anything, grow up with weaker immune systems, and more allergy problems. As long as the kids was their hands when they come in I wouldn't worry. We've had chickens, and my kids are always with them, and they're healthy.

 

[MamaDoula]

I allow my 5yo to handle them, because she's a religious hand-washer (no anti-bac soap, just normal bar soap and warm water), but our 3yo nose-picker only touches them in our presence.

 

[valreegrl]

Each day after school my 5 year old daughter grabs her basket and heads outside to collect the eggs.

Just last weekend she had two bantam hens on her head

Although, I do want to warn you.....they can get this strange chicken disease that causes them to run around the house screaming. Oh wait...that's normal.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Quote:
I think we have that same "disease" here at our home! lol

Seriously though if animals/chickens were going to kill someone then I would be 6 foot under. I am 35 years old, and I cant remember a time when my bedroom didnt have birds, rodents, dogs and cats all in it, sometimes lizards, snakes, bunnies etc... Right now INSIDE our home is 3 dogs, 1 cat, 10 chicks, 3 rats, fish and 5 birds! Outside is 6 hens and one of those is on eggs! I am a VERY healthy person (except for bad veins and you cant catch that from critters) lol

Our 2 daughters are 4 and 9 years old, they have been raised with the animals, and they are healthy as can be!