Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

View attachment 2690808

Wow. I was so off topic. I was thinking: Fire, Axe Murderer in the house; gas leak etc.!

 

[Lady Red]

Wow. I was so off topic. I was thinking: Fire, Axe Murderer in the house; gas leak etc.!

With the last being "down to last bottle of wine."

 

[RoyalChick]

With the last being "down to last bottle of wine."

That would definitely be on the list of 5

 

[featherhead007]

They spilled over their water bowl, and rolled in their own mud. But they are cleaned up now.

Hey , it’s no fun giving two energetic young chickens a bath! But this chicken daddy, did it successfully (until next time)

 

[micstrachan]

Very nice. How did they find you to interview?

I had posted in our local email forum, which is similar to nextdoor, to let my local fellow chicken keepers know it had popped up in the Bay Area and the writer reached out to me.

 

[featherhead007]

Hey , it’s no fun giving two energetic young chickens a bath! But this chicken daddy, did it successfully (until next time)

But to my defense, I raised three children (years ago, and they are doing well today)

 

[featherhead007]

I had posted in our local email forum, which is similar to nextdoor, to let my local fellow chicken keepers know it had popped up in the Bay Area and the writer reached out to me.

I appreciated your input on that, by the way

 

[BY Bob]

What did you think of what was said in the rest of the article?

I assume you are asking about the following statements:

Always wash your hands after handling poultry, she advised.

I absolutely agree with this practice. This is the number one way to stop from getting a salmonella infection.​

Keep a separate pair of boots and clothes to use in the coop, so you don't carry germs back into the home.

I keep a separate pair of shoes which I use in the backyard. Unless you are moving between quarantined groups of chickens, this feels excessive. This is where you need to decide how you want to balance the risk vs inconvenience. I tend not to lay down in the run and it is a rare occurrence when a hen jumps up on me.​

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In general, the easiest place to pick up salmonella is from their feces. If you are not getting their feces on your clothes then the risk of transmission is pretty small. Salmonella does not survive well when it is dry and exposed to sunlight. It likes a damp dark environment. Once their feces is dried out the risk of transmission is very low. Because most coops do not have skylights built into them, it is important that they stay dry and you do not allow for feces to build up. Feces that has piled up stays moist in the middle and the salmonella can effectively survive there.​

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Don't let poultry live in the house

OR if you are going to, keep it cleaned up. Understand though that you are increasing the risk of transmission.​

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Never eat or drink in the area they live

I do this all the time. If they poop in your cup, don't drink it. This is again you deciding what level of risk you find acceptable. If I touch them or they touch me, I am going to wash my hand before I pick up food and eat it with that hand. I will however pick up my coffee cup and drink from it with a "dirty" hand as my hand does not touch the lip of the cup or the liquid. When I go back in I wash my hands and cup. I do not let the chickens drink from my cup. It's just bad form on their part and they need to have manners. It would be very unusual for salmonella to be transmitted via the air. It requires touch.​

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Avoid kissing or snuggling them

I wish mine would snuggle with me. I would certainly let them if they wanted to do so. Afterwards I would certainly wash up and did so back when Maleficent and Daisy, the greatest hen ever, would snuggle with me. I don't think I could kiss them. Kissing is going to be a great way to put the salmonella right on your lips. If I did kiss them it would not be on the beak. We have all seen them poke through poop with their beaks. ​

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Backyard eggs are more likely to have salmonella than store bought eggs.

This is likely true because store bought eggs must be washed prior to sale. You should also wash your eggs prior to to use. I take them out of the fridge or out of the table basket, wash them quick with a little dawn dishwashing soap and then cook with them.​

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"They hug them, kiss them, put clothes on them, bring them inside the house," he added - all behaviors that increase the risk of infection.

This is all correct. These are all ways in which salmonella can be transferred to humans.​

To me I approach this with a determination of the level of risk I am willing to assume. In general Salmonella causes diarrhea. It is rarely fatal, it is uncommon for it to be severe, and it is rarely treated with antibiotics rather you treat the symptoms to avoid dehydration. I don't want it but I am not going to go all hazmat suit to avoid it. Why have chickens if you are going to do that?

Things to consider

• Do you have underlying health conditions that could make an infection more dangerous? I do not but if I did, that would change my thoughts on how I approach my ladies.
• Are you very young or elderly? Immune systems do not respond quite as well in the very young and the elderly so the risk of severe infection is a little higher.

This is how I manage the risk of salmonella. You must chose what level of risk with which you are comfortable and act accordingly.

Does this answer your question @LozzyR ?

 

[BY Bob]

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Thanks. I find the way in which each country is responding fascinating.

Chicken tax

 

[BY Bob]

Jaffar update: he didn’t crow this morning, but he seems to have a lot of energy. He did his 1/2 acre rounds and made some hen sounds. He’s hanging out with Emily now, but here’s a pic. Taken 10 minutes ago.View attachment 2691041

He is looking pretty good. I'm glad to see him out and about.