Guess what I am expecting!!!

[gpamela3499]

Yes I Am expecting a baby in the summer time. I am also the only care taker of my hens. I am concerned about any special precautions I need to take.
I know about Taxoplasmosis (I know spelling) that you can get from cleaning the cat litter box. Is there anything I showed be careful with in regards to the hens. Their coop in the current damp cool weather is a little smelly and I would like to clean it. I have a particle mask but that is not going to protect me from the very small things that could harm my baby (bacteria). I do use gloves and wash after collecting eggs. I wear different shoes in the coop than in the house. Is there anything else I should be aware of? Any medical professionals out there or others with experience in this area?

 

[77horses]

sorry I'm not sure about that, but congrats!!!

 

[OhMyItsAndyy]

Nothing i have ever heard

BUT CONGRATULATIONS!!!

e

*Is excitable*

 

[mtnkids]

Hi there, I am not a medical expert, but I do have 5 kids and am expecting my 6th right now, due in March!

I am also the primary caretaker of the animals. I would caution about over working yourself, keep warm when you go out if you live in a cold climate. Its tough to lug water around, I switch to 3 gallon water buckets to carry instead of 5 gallon. Break up the chores a little bit so you don't do it all at once, your back and feet will thank you!

Other than basic hygiene, such as washing hands before and after, I do not know of any special precautions to take with chickens or eggs during pregnancy. I have had chickens on and off my whole life and never had any troubles either. That's assuming you don't have any allergies and then I'm not sure. If it makes you feel better you should wear the mask, I haven't felt the need to do that before, but then, maybe the seasons worked out just right for me at the time that the litter didn't feel too risky to me!

Best of luck and congratulations!!!

 

[gpamela3499]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I actually have 7 children this is #8. It is the first since I began raising the chickens though. I am especially concerned about cleaning the poop in this damp cool climate because it does breed a lot of mold already. I am especially concerned with the bacteria that might hurt us.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I'm expecting my 5th baby (4th boy) in April. I'm not doing anything to stir up the dust in the coop, but other than that it's business as usual with the chickens chores. Congrats on your pregnancy!

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
Toxoplasmosis is from cats, histoplasmosis is from bird droppings... http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/common/fungal/746.html

 

[BarkerChickens]

Congrats!

As for cleaning, if you are concerned about the dust or dropping, you can always wear a mask when you muck the coop and just be sure you wash your hands.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
Wow! 8 children?? You must have your hands full! My mom had 6 and just that was/is a chore.

Again, congrats and I wouldn't really worry about it too much. Like some others said, if you want to you can wear a mask just in case.
Good luck!!

 

[gpamela3499]

Thanks again for all the info. I did look up histoplasmosis. Yeah I am kind of old and this was a bit of a surprise. Currently only three young ones at home though so it won't be to hard. My oldest is 24 next is 22, 20, 17 (not at home with his dad), and at my home 15, 9 almost 10, and 4 almost 5. The oldest 5 were two or three years apart and that THAT was hard.

Thanks everyone
I guess I won't be able to get out of mucking out the coop

I was hoping to say to my DH " I could catch this terrible thing that could hurt the baby if I clean the coop" of course his reply would have been "Awwww I quess that means the chickens will have to be given away. " smiling.