cross contamination

[mistressveila]

i have a couple of questions that i have tried to get answered for the last couple of years, and it seems i cant find anyone anywhere who can answer my questions definitively. i am hoping someone here can help....i will give you a bit of background first. my hubby kept his pet hens off and on for about twenty years...last couple of years now, he has wanted to get a flock again for the spring..one big reason is, he misses his old backyard flock ,and 2, there is sometype of zoning the town is doing that will take away the right for him to have chickens etc.. we live in the 100 year old farmhouse, acre and a half of land, and the rights for the animals have been in place all that time..those rights are just what the town wants to revoke . he knows when it goes into effect so he isnt worried about that, just getting the birds established in on time..NOW heres the question i CAN:T get an answer to..in those years in between flocks ,i bought and hand-raised my first large bird, a macaw.that was 10 years ago.. also along the way i acquired an african grey as well...now they are of course only indoor birds but, what i am concerned about is, any cross contamination, and my exotics getting sick.. ..meaning if my hubby is out in the backyard with the hens ,in the coop doing what you need to do to tend your flock etc and the coop is a good 100 foot from the house or so,my concern is when he gets ready to come in the house, he takes off his boots and coveralls and leaves them in the barn/ garage, which is next to the house, and then comes in, is there anything the hens may have to contaminate or pass onto , 2 to 3 thousand dollars worth of birds. THAT has and IS really been a reason why we havent kept a backyard flock for those years.. i know i have seen the term biosecurity,and i have been very afraid of cross contamination..can ANYONE PLUEEEZE give me an answer as to keeping the backyard flock, and if it could endanger my exotics health.. i would REALLY appreciate it, and i would alay my fears and make my hubbyVERY happy so he can get his chickens and we have nice fresh eggs again ... again thank you...

 

[PandoraTaylor]

I have both Expensive Parrots and chickens.

I change shoes and remove outside shirt (or snow pants & coat) wash hands really well with antibaterial soap.
I am the only one that takes care of all the animals here, so far even with a sick chicken 10 foot from my Parrots, we have had no issues at all.

 

[strawberryfields]

I do, too... two house parrots... I do wash my hands a lot. Leave my shoes outside....

I think you just need to take all prudent measures.

 

[Chick-a-roos]

mistressveila - I am so glad you have addressed this. I also have the same question. I started my little chicken flock April 2009 and have wanted a African Grey for 1 1/2 years now but that is my concren too. I worry about the scaley leg mites since I've been battling this for months. Hope you get some great responses.