Indoor(ish) chicken

[chooketychook]

Hi there,
I hope this is in the right place I have a small concern I’d like some input on please.

I have a small pekin pullet she’s aged around 22 weeks or so maybe a little less we had her since she was 9 weeks old.

When she first joined our family she couldn’t seem to get along with any of my other chickens so at evening I’d bring her in I done that for about a week and during the day integrated her with the rest of the flock,they are fine now and established Infact blue has now turned into a little bully and bosses around a couple of the bigger girls.

However at roost time blue comes into the house,into her spot/mini coop and settles for the night! Not before having a wipe down,brush and a 30 minute cuddle with me! I’ve tried to put her to sleep with the others but she jumps out and runs down to the house so I felt sorry for her and allowed her to stay in (and to be honest I like the cuddles)

My worry is I keep seeing all this salmonella,parasites and deadly disease warnings about cuddling chickens or letting them indoors.

Is it really dangerous for me to allow blue to keep coming in?

 

[sourland]

Not as long as you wash your hands.

 

[3KillerBs]

I do wipe her down or sometimes dry shampoo her with shampoo for small pets

Don't over-clean her feathers. She needs her natural oils to keep them in good condition.

But do wash her dirty feet.

 

[chooketychook]

Don't over-clean her feathers. She needs her natural oils to keep them in good condition.

But do wash her dirty feet.

Thank you for telling me that! Il slow down with the feather wiping and stick to cleaning her feet

 

[chooketychook]

No just wash your hands your fine hun.

Thank you for replying! The house would feel empty in the night without her now but every stomach twinge or sneeze I’m thinking have I got salmonella have I got whatever Illness that comes from feather dust I bought a small air conditioner just incase.
Sometimes I think having so much information available in the palm of your hands makes life a little less fun

 

[Pierre duck drake]

Hi there,
I hope this is in the right place I have a small concern I’d like some input on please.

I have a small pekin pullet she’s aged around 22 weeks or so maybe a little less we had her since she was 9 weeks old.

When she first joined our family she couldn’t seem to get along with any of my other chickens so at evening I’d bring her in I done that for about a week and during the day integrated her with the rest of the flock,they are fine now and established Infact blue has now turned into a little bully and bosses around a couple of the bigger girls.

However at roost time blue comes into the house,into her spot/mini coop and settles for the night! Not before having a wipe down,brush and a 30 minute cuddle with me! I’ve tried to put her to sleep with the others but she jumps out and runs down to the house so I felt sorry for her and allowed her to stay in (and to be honest I like the cuddles)

My worry is I keep seeing all this salmonella,parasites and deadly disease warnings about cuddling chickens or letting them indoors.

Is it really dangerous for me to allow blue to keep coming in?

it's definitely fine for you to keep snuggling her! I snuggle my ducks and turkeys, but I just wash my hands for 30 seconds every time after I touch them. As as long as you wash your hands, you'll be fine!

 

[ValarieF]

Hi there,
I hope this is in the right place I have a small concern I’d like some input on please.

I have a small pekin pullet she’s aged around 22 weeks or so maybe a little less we had her since she was 9 weeks old.

When she first joined our family she couldn’t seem to get along with any of my other chickens so at evening I’d bring her in I done that for about a week and during the day integrated her with the rest of the flock,they are fine now and established Infact blue has now turned into a little bully and bosses around a couple of the bigger girls.

However at roost time blue comes into the house,into her spot/mini coop and settles for the night! Not before having a wipe down,brush and a 30 minute cuddle with me! I’ve tried to put her to sleep with the others but she jumps out and runs down to the house so I felt sorry for her and allowed her to stay in (and to be honest I like the cuddles)

My worry is I keep seeing all this salmonella,parasites and deadly disease warnings about cuddling chickens or letting them indoors.

Is it really dangerous for me to allow blue to keep coming in?

No just wash your hands your fine hun.

 

[chooketychook]

Oh brilliant I had a read through! Thank you for high lighting this for me before I went over kill with the cleaning think I’ll leave her be (apart from the feet) from now on unless she is really dirty.

This is a good article on how chickens groom themselves: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-preening-uropygial-gland.77113/

 

[chooketychook]

Thank you so much for responding! I do wipe her down or sometimes dry shampoo her with shampoo for small pets and wash my hands after Infact she’s here snuggling with me right now.

it's definitely fine for you to keep snuggling her! I snuggle my ducks and turkeys, but I just wash my hands for 30 seconds every time after I touch them. As as long as you wash your hands, you'll be fine!

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you for telling me that! Il slow down with the feather wiping and stick to cleaning her feet

This is a good article on how chickens groom themselves: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-preening-uropygial-gland.77113/