my husband is scared to let kids touch chicks

[mom'sfolly]

When the chicks were in the brooder, we kept a thing of hand sanitizer next to the brooder. Before and after anyone picked up the chicks, they used the sanitizer. They kids handle to older birds sometimes and I don't worry about it. Well kept chickens are no more likely to harbor disease than your dog or cat.

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Beware.... your hubby is right to be concerned. You and the kids will definately catch "CHICKENLOVERSSYNDROME" If will cause latenights (waiting for peeps to hatch) rescheduled vacations(need to work a pet sitter into schedule) and unendless talking of, about,chickens in general. So tread into the chicken world lightly, you have just STEPPED in an addiction!!!! Good luck with the chicks and WELCOME TO OUR WORLD!!!!!

 

[key west chick]

I try to wash my hands every time I come in contact with chickens or eggs. Sometimes I forget.

I've never gotten chicken cooties before. And 1 thing to tell DH. Lots of things are host specific. Meaning, if your chickens come down with lice, they wont live on you or your kids. Tell him not to freak out, and enjoy your new additions!

 

[SunAngel]

We have had chickens for almost 2 yrs now and have worked outside building things for them all the time & cleaning coops.....

Its usually, cut a piece of wood, hold a chicken, put in a couple screws, stop to pet a chicken, back to cutting wood, stop to take a cracker/snack one of the kids brought out to share, clean coop, throw down new straw, let chickens back into the coop, plop down into the new straw and get climbed on...etc etc. I know for a fact that if we ran inside every 2 minutes to wash our hands, we would never get anything done! Noone here has ever 'gotten' anything from our chicks/chickens, but a few scratches and lots of snuggles

The kids bring all their cold germs home from school!!! Tell hubby to quit worrying so much! We hug and kiss our chickens all the time (well just the extra cute, cuddly ones) and life is good.

Bet if you took a poll, the germaphobes probably get sick more often than the rest of us.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

My nephew did get a temporary ban from handling chicks when one pooped on his hand and he responded by wiping his hand off on his sister's hair.

But otherwise, as long as they are old enough not to squeeze, they should be fine.

 

[fordmommy]

Quote:

#1 rule, wash hands after. No worries.

 

[happytxchick]

We've never gotten sick. My two-year-old hugs and kisses "her baby chit-ens!"

 

[happytxchick]

Quote:
Agreed...and just to prevent the chicken lice thing...get some Diatomaceous Earth (DE) from your farm store.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Our daughter does everything but lick her chickens...lol. I have even caught her napping with one or two on the bed with her. With a towel under them of course.
And to be honest, she probably does NOT remember to wash her hands everytime she touches them and no chickie diseases here

 

[chixie]

welcome to byc...Imy kids and nieces and nephews handle my chicks alot and they have never gotten sick... besides washing hands after handling the chicks you can use hand sanitizer...