Do you think I need to get rid of all my chickens?

[suzettex5]

oh man, I'm so bummed to hear you've been sick so often, and with such severe symptoms.

I dont know if you know this, (alot of people dont) but ONIONS are a big source of salmonella and other food borne illness'. They are very porous and actually absorb germs and bacteria. Many folks who think the potato salad made them sick have no idea it was actually the onions. Food pro's will tell you not to store a cut onion in your fridge due to the high possibility of bacteria collecting in them (even if they are bagged up or contained)

An interesting experiment- Place a cut in half onion in a room or 2 of your home and see how gross it gets in a day or two due to it sucking in all the dust, dirt and bacteria. Just be sure you dont touch it to dispose of it.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Gee, I fairly often keep cut onions out and uncovered for several days--they never look or taste bad, and I've never become ill from one. And my home is QUITE dusty, and I am far from a clean freak.

NPIP tests for salmonella. It can be on the surface of eggshells. It can be in and on many things. I do not know that feces is tested for salmonella; NPIP uses blood tests, and the results are near instantaneous.

Regardless of whether it is your birds giving it to you or something else, you need to find out what. First, since they are your initial concern, have them NPIP tested. You can also call and ask the vet about testing their feces, but I've never heard of testing that way. If they test positive, then you have to decide whether to treat them with appropriate antibiotics or to cull. I suggest speaking with a veterinarian in making your decision.

Second, what other animals do you have? Do you use rawhide chews? If so, discontinue and get the dog tested. Do you have problems with mice or rats?

Do you grow a veggie and/or fruit garden? What kind of fertilizer do you use, and how do you prepare your produce? Do you purchase or get produce from neighbor's gardens or farmer's markets? To what extent do you wash or disinfect your produce? How thoroughly do you cook your foods? Do you use store bought or homemade sauces and condiments (mayonaisse, etc.)

 

[LindseyM12]

Quote:
These are all the animals that I have: I have horses, chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs. I dont use rawhide chews. We had a mice problem a long time ago but we took care of them so that wouldn't be it. We grow veggies but they are all dead now. We didnt use fertilizer. We cook our food very good. and we use store bought condimentsA
How do I get my chickens NPIP tested? And if they do have it I have to cull them?!? I don't have the money for antibiotics!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
These are all the animals that I have: I have horses, chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs. I dont use rawhide chews. We had a mice problem a long time ago but we took care of them so that wouldn't be it. We grow veggies but they are all dead now. We didnt use fertilizer. We cook our food very good. and we use store bought condimentsA
How do I get my chickens NPIP tested? And if they do have it I have to cull them?!? I don't have the money for antibiotics!

You will have to go to your state's Agriculture Department to find out their process for NPIP testing. In many states it is free or nearly so; quite expensive in a few. The reality s you just need your birds tested; don't need to do the full NPIP certification, so let them know why you are asking.

Not all antibiotics are expensive; penicillin and tetracyclines are pretty inexpensive and should work, although they may not be the best choice (which is probably Baytril).

 

[deerman]

Quote:
These are all the animals that I have: I have horses, chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs. I dont use rawhide chews. We had a mice problem a long time ago but we took care of them so that wouldn't be it. We grow veggies but they are all dead now. We didnt use fertilizer. We cook our food very good. and we use store bought condimentsA
How do I get my chickens NPIP tested? And if they do have it I have to cull them?!? I don't have the money for antibiotics!

Why do you think its the chickens. Ducks,geese, even the dog could be the carriers. Don't think the NPIP Test for salmonoella. but my test cost 50.00 thats with hundreds of birds. NPIP TEST FOR Pullorum ,typhoid, and if you want bird flu.

 

[deerman]

Make sure your eggs are fully cooked even the yellow.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Pullorum & typhoid are salmonella; specifically salmonella pullorum and salmonella gallinarum; I have read that testing requirements recently changed to add salmonella enteritidis to NPIP testing.

 

[tls_ranch]

Salmonella can be coming from anywhere even a favorite restaurant, friend, co-worker or family member. All your pets including your guinea pig and dogs can carry it. I would recomend that you toss ALL open food in your fridge including ketchup, jams, mayo etc. Bleach your fridge and clean everything in your house including appliances , cutting boards, counters, floors, door knobs, keyboard, phones, remotes etc. You pretty much have to turn yourself into a paranoid germ-a-phobic. Testing will help, but it's hard to figure out what to test????? drinking water, food, or pets?

The biggest thing is not to wear your "coop" shoes in the house.

Don't cross contaminate raw foods or surfaces, cook your eggs and wash your hands..........you'll be fine with chickens.

 

[LindseyM12]

thanks for the info!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
And keep your purse off the floor! Only hang it by the straps over a chair or set it in your lap or possibly on the seat of another chair when you are out. Regularly disinfect the bottom of it.