Not an emergency, more of a health issue question-Opinions Pls

[LaneHill]

I'm not sure where to post this, & hoping I've found the proper place...

I'm 8 weeks pregnant (Yay!) & scheduled to go to a class tomorrow to get certified to pull poultry blood for disease testing.
Students are to bring their own chickens to "learn" on (I'm not sure I'm going to be able to stick the poor girls to pull the blood).
My questions are this-
is it to become infected by the blood? Because if you knew the clutz I am, you would also know without a doubt I'm going to stick myself instead of the hens

& I'm also thinking it would be so easy for one of the other student's chickens to infect my own. I know of 2 students that will be there who have had huge problems with coccidiosis (sp?) in their flocks. Wouldn't their chickens being in the same room pose a threat to my own?
So, in your opinions, what would you do??
Forget the class, or go?

 

[Sorin]

I'm not sure... Hmmmm... I would think that as long as the chickens aren't sharing close space or as long as there's no chance they will come into contact with each others poo I would think it would be okay, but I'm not an expert on Cocci.

 

[dawg53]

I would not have my chickens anywhere near someone elses chickens, especially knowing some may have cocci! Additionally there are plenty of diseases that spread by airflow...chicken to chicken. If you handle other chickens, I hope you bring an extra change of clothes....think biosecurity, refresh the instructors memory about it!

 

[sourland]

Quote:
X2 Excellent advice from dawg53!

 

[LaneHill]

Thank you for the quick responses.
I was thinking maybe I was being an overprotective mama hen about the girls. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thought it was a bad idea.

 

[chickengrl]

Quote:
X2 Excellent advice from dawg53!

x3!!! I would be more worried about respiratory illness. It spreads very easily. Can you say "I forgot my chicken" ? or "the chicken ate my home work" ?