Coturnix Quail Hygiene

[Doubletap]

I just got 10 coturnix quail and I really didn't think about how to protect myself and my family from any "quail born disease". I have a 4 year old daughter that would love to handle the birds but I wonder how careful I need to be. Is a good hand washing enough or should I keep the birds from her until she gets a bit older and has a more developed immune system.

 

[underground chickenman]

I wouldn't worry too much. Your biggest risk is salmonella. There are others, but they are even rarer. Almost all are contracted by contact with the feces of an infected bird or, less commonly, through contaminated eggs. Keep your birds healthy and follow all contact with them with a good hand washing and everybody should be fine. Little kids also like to kiss chicks, which she shouldn't do, in my opinion.

UGCM

 

[darkfur]

as a former microbiologist I have two things to say. One is that the risk of catching disease from handling birds is probably a bit overstated. The second and far more important thing is that the vast majority of communicable diseases can be prevented by washing hands before any instance of hand to face contact - this would include smoking, chewing gum, applying makeup, biting your nails and sucking your thumb etc and preferably any time you want to touch your face at all as well as eating and drinking. Most people don't wash their hands very well. To wash your hands properly, a rule of thumb (no pun intended) is that it takes as long as it takes to sing the Happy birthday song ( good way for kids to remember). Use a liquid soap- it doesn't really need to be antibacterial - and dry hands very thoroughly. I worked for a vet for a while and for a sewage treatment plant for several years and never got sick because of proper handwashing protocol. I noticed at the sewage plant it was invariably contractors who smoked who got sick because they didn't think about if their hands were clean enough before lighting up.