kids and chickens

[mistyfeather]

we had 2 duck brooding in our living room the kids sat next to them eating snack watching cartoons and are just fine! my kids sit on the ground in the run eating there snacks (and sharing) with their chickens all the time and are just fine

they also wash their hands when done playing with them. i dont wory about seperat shoes , but i keep the coop and run clean aswell. we handle our chicks since day one

 

[acid_chipmunk]

My kids are 10 and 6 and know that either myself or hubby has to be there if they touch the chicks, and then it is only to pet, not to hold. (My daughter gets a little excited and I don't want squished chicks). They also know they have to wash their hands as soon as they come in house. I am by no means a germophobe and think that some people go too far with it, but we do have good hand washing practices in our house.

 

[suzettex5]

Well, I let my 12 month old touch all the chicks and hens- supervised, of course. And all the other kids hold chicks and chase and catch the bigger pullets. The only thing I am picky about is that they remove their shoes before coming in the house- no exceptions. As for hand washing after holding, honestly, it doesnt happen every time- unless I see visible icky's.

I look at it this way- Thousands of children have grown up on poultry farms for hundreds of years, and still do. The vast majority of them lived to reproduce, mine will too. We try to be clean, and dont take serious risks- but heck, public school has waaaayyyy worse germs floating around in greater quantities than my little flock of chickens. I inspect my flock every few days for illness, (serious inspection, like looking at eyes, ears, feet, and listening to breathing) and check for mites, and bugs on a daily basis. We wash up before meals, but I just dont worry very much about chicken germs. How in the world does one stop a 3 year old from putting his finger in his nose after holding a chicken if you are more than 3 feet away holding another baby?

Guess I'm gonna be in the minority that doesnt worry that much about germs from my chickens.

 

[Marie1234]

I'd guess that risk from disease is lower than risk from injury. Not something that will be a problem for the first few months, but just as you are getting very comfortable with your birds by the end of summer to the point where they aren't afraid of the kids and the kids aren't afraid of them, be careful not to forget about basic chicken/child safety. Toddlers and chickens are about the same size. Chickens like shiny things and food. Examples - My daughter had sequins on her shoes that the birds really wanted. Eyes are shiny. Toddlers like to carry around snacks...chickens like to have snacks. Toddlers get excited and scream...chickens can take that as a threat.
I am not trying to scare you away, just giving you the heads up as someone who has had chickens and small kids together for several years about what is ahead. When you hold a hen for the kids to pet hold it securely and keep the beak far away from anyone's face (including your own). With three little ones going in three directions there is no way even the best parent with the best kids and the the best chickens can watch everyplace at one time. So if the birds are roaming the yard have the kids at a safe distance. A nice run that the kids can see into is great entertainment and much safer than having free range birds moving around in the same space as the kids.
I hope you and your family have a lot of fun with your new chicks.

 

[MimiChick]

Quote:
I have to agree with Suzette. There are way more, and worse, germs out there. I also think that we, as a society, have become far more germophobic than necessary. Exposure to a variety of germs builds good immune systems. When I was a kid (waaaay before hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps) we came in from playing outside all day and washed our hands before dinner. We probably didn't wash them all day prior to that. And I'm proud to say most of the "kids" I grew up with are hale and hearty elders now.
Worry less and enjoy more. Good luck.

 

[sotelomary]

I have a small daycare and had 5 chicks in the bathroom in a box. I cleaned the box morning and evening and changed the water every 2 hours. It was clean and didn't smell. I let the kids hold the chicks everyday to socialize the chicks and because it was fun!
Yes, we washed our hands after. But then again, we always wash our hands several times a day. Don't worry so much.

The Chickens are now in their run during the day. I couldn't have them free ranging because of the poop. I did let them free range during nap time and then hosed the entire yard but this got too expensive with the water bill. Now that they are in the run, the kids can see and enjoy them without having to worry about stepping on poop. I do have a pair of shoes that I only use while working with the chickens and those shoes of course never come inside. They have poop! on them.

Just do your best with the hand washing and you will be fine. The important thing is to enjoy your chickens.

Mary

 

[mistyfeather]

we walk through the house all the time after being in the garden or with the chickens, but my floors also get cleaned every day, we are way to busy around here for changing shoes every time we go in or out, most days we spend more time outside then inside. we just wipe our feet on the rough mat before going in

gets everything off the bottom of your shoes

 

[schellie69]

I would just wash hands after handling stay away from the hand santizer with small children, it is almost all alcohol and the kids put their hands in their mouth they can absorb the alcohol and it can have problems. so be careful when using the hand sanitizer just IMO

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I would be more worried about the kids when the chickens get older. My small children cannot go in the coup without me and even with me, I have to keep my eyes peeled. I can't fault a rooster for doing exactly what I expect him to do. So its best not to take any chances.
I was raised with animals all my life and I am the healthiest person I know of. My children are very close, but not quite.....they do get poison ivy, which I don't.
I would also concern myself about the cats. Do you have Coop Knox yet? When you think your coop is ready, put a can of sardines in the middle of it and lock it to see if anything gets in.