Neighbor concerned about bird flu

[talkinboutchickens]

In most cases that humans get bird flu, it's workers at chicken factories with thousands of birds. And in most cases of bird flu in chickens, that's in commercial factory farms as well.

Tell her the statistics^^^^

This mainly happens to stressed birds that are overcrowded in dirty facilities. Yours will have a spacious area.

If she is still concerned, she is in charge of her own health. She should be doing her own research about the tiny risk of bird to human transmission, and she should see the statistics. You keep doing what you're doing. Although it's very kind of you to worry about other's opinions, you know what you're doing, and I truly hate to say it but she is a bit dramatic saying she'll catch the bird flu when she is indoors all the time and the closest she'll get to your chickens is many feet. It's not like she is going to be coming into direct contact with their saliva and other stuff. I see how she may be concerned because she is older, but I would only be concerned if I was walking into a chicken factory or into a super dirty chicken coop with sick chooks.
The info on the News is not what it seems. It's like they want to make people scared, and they are making bird flu sound like some crazy thing that rapidly goes through and kills all animals and humans that it infects. Your neighbor needs to read scientific articles.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

TBH nothing bothers me more than someone who does not read up on something that concerns them. During the HPAI thing last year, my nana was going crazzzyyy saying "be careful near those chickens, don't put your face near them. I saw this and that on the news." Ok, here's my thoughts: it's my choice. I know how my chickens are cared for, that they are healthy, happy, and have a good coop and run and enrichment. I will know when one of them is sick, and I will obviously not touch it when I notice that it's sick. It's usually not something that goes unnoticed. Not some disease without symptoms. I may see a chicken acting lethargic, or whatever, and I will know what's up. Things on the news, like the bird flu, are not as they seem. Sure, they can kill lots of animals at a time, but it's not like super contagious to humans. Mostly only people with compromised immune systems. Like the elderly, notably elderly who are indoor people and are not active, and little kids.
Idk it just bothers me how non-chicken keepers act like they know so much more about the bird flu and other matters than people who have been keeping them for years or people who have done a lot of research! My rant for the day. I needed to get that out yall.

 

[chickenana707]

Tell her to stop watching the 'news'.
Not really, that would be rude.


In all reality, it's very unlikely for your birds to get bird flu and even less likely to get it from them.

Your birds would be dead before she had any risk of catching it from them since they will be contained. She's at much great risk from wild birds than someone else's chickens not on her property. People *can* get bird flu but it's not *that* likely especially if you aren't interacting with infected birds. I still would be careful around wild or sick bird though

Good points. Thank you

In most cases that humans get bird flu, it's workers at chicken factories with thousands of birds. And in most cases of bird flu in chickens, that's in commercial factory farms as well.

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Tell her the statistics^^^^

This mainly happens to stressed birds that are overcrowded in dirty facilities. Yours will have a spacious area.

If she is still concerned, she is in charge of her own health. She should be doing her own research about the tiny risk of bird to human transmission, and she should see the statistics. You keep doing what you're doing. Although it's very kind of you to worry about other's opinions, you know what you're doing, and I truly hate to say it but she is a bit dramatic saying she'll catch the bird flu when she is indoors all the time and the closest she'll get to your chickens is many feet. It's not like she is going to be coming into direct contact with their saliva and other stuff. I see how she may be concerned because she is older, but I would only be concerned if I was walking into a chicken factory or into a super dirty chicken coop with sick chooks.
The info on the News is not what it seems. It's like they want to make people scared, and they are making bird flu sound like some crazy thing that rapidly goes through and kills all animals and humans that it infects. Your neighbor needs to read scientific articles.

Great points… you’re right people (news) definitely blow it up. The numbers can sound daunting but then when you dig deeper and realize it’s the same two COMMERCIAL factories it makes you realize it’s not as spread out as the news tries to make it seem. I live in Wisconsin and we did just have an “outbreak” but it was at a single facility containing over a million birds. So, contained in that sense.

 

[chickenana707]

I don't get why she's nervous about bird flu when she never spends any time outside and doesn't have any birds?

Right. I do want to be caring for her concern… but practically goong forward I’m also taking it as a grain of salt becuase she’s never outside so I genuinely think she won’t be effected at all unless she gets in her head about it. She ended up coming around by the end of the convo when I reassured her that I’m responsible and receptive of concerns… just dont know if she’ll approach me again about anything so wanted some further input from other chicken owners for perspective. Part of me is maybe I shouldn’t have said anything cause she probably never would’ve known I got chickens since she’s never outside! haha.

 

[chickenana707]

It's really not too much info compared to whatever information the neighbor's already absorbed that makes them concerned. I've simplified it below and it's only 4 points.

1. Bird flu is spread from wild birds to chickens by infected droppings, saliva and dander.

2. Op is doing XYZ to protect their chickens from exposure to bird flu from infected birds.

3. Humans get bird flu from close contact from infected animals.

4. Op is keeping their birds confined to their property, therefore the neighbor will not be in close contact with their birds and cannot get bird flu from them.

Op  should have more information and/or trusted sources available to address any additional concerns the neighbor brings up.

Thank you. Yes, to me I figured it was not soemthing I’m highly worried about because I know the facts. But sometimes people are so fearful that the facts almost don’t matter. I was just curious how other people would handle this. But like you posted, when it comes down to it, it really is simple. If she wants to live in fear that’s her choice. Maybe that’s why she doesn’t spend time outside, in general. Thank you!