I must admit, I did years of studying professional zoology & understand completely where Jessica & the others are coming from here.
My chicks are also in the house.... normally loose along with 2 trusty dogs .... No problems with chicken poop or anything because I just clean up with a mop behind them if needed & they also have access outside if they want. They sleep in front of the fire with the dogs. Of course one day they will be in a coop, but they will still be welcome indoors for a pet & treats.
In fact, compared to some animals I have kept, I actually find our chicks keep very clean when they are indoors & maintained.
Years back myself & a friend used to work voluntarily on a farm with chickens & horses, but there was no soap to wash your hands. We never once fell ill working with the animals, despite the number of times we smoked cigarettes whilst working (hence, transmitting possibly harmful bacteria to our lips).
It just depends on how you are as a person. Just because you wouldn't have chickens in the home because you consider them "unhygienic", it really is uncalled for to judge or hint judgement of someone else for keeping them indoors. Hamsters & rats, budgies & dogs.... you could consider them unhygienic, but people who would never dream of chickens in their home still keep those animals indoors. And ALL animals carry potentially life threatening bacteria that most people are immune to from regular close contact.
I have had numerous rescued wildlife kept indoors & I have never fallen ill from them either, not even gulls or common hedgehogs (which I would NOT recommend indoors, they do smell!)
Really though, her children's chances of falling ill from her birds is extremely slim. Birds run at a different temperature, so 95% of diseases are not transmittable to people. Bacteria may be another issue but as long as the children wash their hands after handling, they will not get ill. And if they did fall ill, it would most likely be nothing more than a 24 hour tummy bug. Her children are more likely to fall ill from a dog or cat.
In fact, reptiles are the most unhygienic animals you can keep. They carry A LOT of dangerous bacteria.
Sounds like those birds are very healthy to me & she is probably doing a wonderful job. What's best for them is that they get plenty of handling to ensure they are calmer & easy to care for in the future. Whether that handling takes place indoors or outside is Jessica's business. They are not wild animals so it doesn't matter to them too much whether they are kept indoors or outside as long as their requirements for the five freedoms are being met.
This post wasn't a rant btw.... its just what I have learned over the years.
