Is Free Range Safe for my kids?

[catterbug]

I have a smaller backyard and I was thinking about letting my chickens have free run on it. My kids and dog also have free run of the yard. Will this cause any problems with diseases or bacterias? I have heard that salmonilia is common in chickens.

Thank you.

 

[suzettex5]

I know there are some on here that have waaay more knowelge than I, but I wanted to bump this cuz I'm interested too- ARE there germs n stuff that chickens can give people and dogs, even in a 'clean' enviroment???

Oh, and I dont know if it would bother you, but, my dogs sure do like to eat chicken poo

Then, of course they wanna give me a kiss- blech! and there is the issue of kids and dogs walking in poo and dragging it into the house....

Anybody else???

 

[patnjess]

yes chickens can have all sorts of bug/germs/parasites pregnant women shouldn't. But hey what do I know, my kids run around the yard and my chickens free range. Gotta get those immune systems up!

 

[ravencreek]

My kids,dogs,horses,cats,rabbits, and turkeys all share the farm with my free range chickens. My kids go barefoot(just like I did growing up) and yea they get poop on their feet but they are washable. I have never had an issue with them becoming sick from sharing grounds with the chickens. They even collect eggs and feed the chicks not yet old enough to free range.

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

not at all . salmomela as caused by unsanitary chicken farms

. and free range has nothing to do with salmonela . salmonla is a coating over an egg . it's esily rinsed off

. and salmonela is on the outside it won't affect the insides .

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
Unfortunately that is not true.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/salment_g.htm
Unlike eggborne salmonellosis of past decades, the current epidemic is due to intact and disinfected grade A eggs. Salmonella enteritidis silently infects the ovaries of healthy appearing hens and contaminates the eggs before the shells are formed.

My kids play in the yard and our birds (and assorted wildlife) are out there all the time. I don't let them play in the henyard, but in the yard of our house I don't worry about it.

.....Alan.

 

[patnjess]

well the parasites are more to worry about. seriously the chances are so few!!! and salmonella is found inside the ovaduct/yolk. did a project on this in Micro, and also what all chickens can carry. Unless your immune system is down or your pregnant, oh and I wouldn't let a baby crawl around in it, should be fine!

 

[patnjess]

ironically egg whites, are alomst sterile!!! it contains high levels of lysozyme which is antimicrobial, but deadly especially to gram + organisms.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Yep my Kids and chickens free Range together everyday.. ANd just try to get my 4 yr old to keep his shoes on .. Even right after a bath , like last night

The funny thing is when you get on to him and he repeats back to you what you have said to him .. " Uh Daddy its only Chicken Poop" .. Gotta love them youngins