Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LaFemmeKatia]

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 such a handsome boy!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

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

That would be the worst!!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

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 ?

Very informative.
I do keep chicken boots for coop-only wearing.
I don’t have “chicken clothes”, but I wear my old work (junk) clothes if I am going to do serious coop cleaning, scraping, raking, and shoveling, and wheel-barrow work. Afterward, they go right in the washing machine when I come in the back door.
Other than that, I do snuggle chickens regularly (who can resist?) I have had chickens in the house, and if they poop I clean and sanitize, like I would for dog or cat poop.
And I have been seen relaxing in my coop chair while enjoying my coffee. ️

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

You know I can’t help myself from providing a Ruby update. Apparently the watermelon helped. Miss Ruby left the coop this morning! I honestly don’t know how that is physically possible.

She did not utilize the chair to get down, but did face plant when she landed. Poor girl. (I have since removed the chair.) She’s a bit unsteady on her feet, but made her cute sounds that she does, ate more watermelon, and was picking *something* up off the ground. She did get one tiny bite of scrambled egg, too. I don’t normally provide scratch in the morning, but I scattered a generous amount in hopes Ruby might pick something up and eat it. When I left, she was sitting in the sun.

I’m only working a half day, and if she’s still with us when I get home, I sincerely hope she comes out of the run to free range and get some bugs. This girl is QUITE the trooper and apparently has not quite given up. I love her. I lover her spirit so much.

She is a trooper. She intends to make the most of every day that she has. We should all live like Ruby!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Great news!!! Jaffar crowed for me today, very weak crowing, but, this means that he is recovering from his respiratory illness (antibiotics and praying worked)!!!!!
!!

You rock, Jaffar!!!

 

[BY Bob]

I think By Bob covered it further on.

I felt safe answering having written an article on the "egg song" of which you approved.

 

[LozzyR]

I had a feeling that the percentage due to kissing chickens would be vanishingly small.
Good job Bob. After all, it was Fox news....

But he was won over, that’s got to be a good thing.

 

[Marie2020]

I do like that they still permit intimate partners. Good exception.

Just as long as I can have cuddles with my cat and dog I'm happy

 

[LozzyR]

Even more beautiful than I imagined! a huge fan of intricate line work, and you've got in in spades

The tattoo artist did such a good job, I’m so happy with it.

 

[Marie2020]

My input on adding calcium: scramble eggs with the shells, chop them up fine let cool, they will eat!
Ps. It’s a lot cheaper than a lobster lunch! (I have done the lobster before too) sorry to butt in.

I always add eggshell once a day in their main meal plus leave the oyster shells available