Is it okay to handle chickens when I'm sick?

[BellaBokBok]

I've got a very bad cold, I just want to make sure I'm not going to affect them if I'm handling them

 

[Judy]

I doubt that they are susceptible to your viruses, just as you are not susceptible to theirs.

 

[terryg]

Almost all illnesses that affect chickens are species specific. (For example, chickens don't pass coccidia on to rabbits. Although they both can get coccidia, it's they are different varieties.) You won't make your hens sick from a respiratory ailment that you have. But, if your immune system is down, you could possibly be more susceptible to the few pathogens that the chickens can pass along to you. (For example, the germ causing bumblefoot is a staph bacteria) I have a FAQ about this here: http://hencam.com/faq/do-chickens-transmit-diseases-to-people-?