please don't make fun of me for this dumb question about egg germs

[bobbieschicks]

You won't get made fun of here - there's no question too "dumb" to be asked. When you figure out "normal" let me know - I doubt I'd be able to change for it, but I'd like to know just how far off the scale I might be. LOL!

I worry about being too lacking in keeping germs at bay. I've caught myself popping something to eat and then thought "did I wash my hands after coming back from the coop?" Most people would wash their hands before eating - but I don't always remember that either. So what's worse - too clean or too germy? Personally I'd like to be a little more concerned about dirty - but for some reason I just can't get there. I do have separate boots and shoes just for wearing in the coop/run, but the chickens free range and there's chicken poop all over the place - so not sure how helpful that is for keeping germs out of the house. And I have a constant battle with my 9 year old son who has special needs - he loves to put EVERYTHING in his mouth. I caught him picking up straw from the ground and putting it in his mouth to chew it and then feed it to the rooster. The same straw that the chickens run around on and poop in! UGH! I guess that's a step up for him since he used to put bark mulch in his mouth and chew it. I guess it's true - that which does not kill us makes us stronger.

 

[Mum]

we really don't hear much about people getting sick from it. Someone would have to have a cut on their hands or eat the poop to really make them sick.

Yes, people do indeed get sick from eating eggs/chicken that do not adhere to good husbandry (salmonella? E-coli? Botulism?) Just because you don't hear much about it, does not necessarily mean it does not occur, or in recordable circumstances. Nor does it occur simply because of a cut hand or eating chicken poop . And most certainly, there is no link that is occurs to people with particular illnesses/weaknesses/concerns eg OCD vs people who do not.

 

[gale65]

Thanks everyone

Gale - it was very good and comforting to read your post.  I was officially diagnosed with OCD 20 years ago.  Since then, I have battled every kind of germ known to mankind and tried numerous meds to help out.  As I know this is not a health forum, I wanted you to know that others out there deal with and fully UNDERSTAND what you say when you say "germs".  A person with true OCD does not use the word "germ" to mean the same type of "germ" as "normal" people.  You probably think that since your husband touches the doorknob after working with the chickens contaminates the doorknob, therefore every time someone touches that doorknob, they spread the contamination to other places.  Listen - I know what you mean and I feel for you.  About 3 years ago, I was bound and determined to have some chickens regardless of the "germs" they bring for my pleasure and for my children to enjoy (which they do).  I worried about the germs and still do to an extent because let's face it, keeping chickens can get pretty nasty, but it can only get intrusive to your enjoyment of them IF YOU LET IT.  Long story short - your husband probably will get tired of your requests to "clean" his hands (I know my wife does), so just understand - people have kept chickens since the beginning of time ( I'm assuming ) and we really don't hear much about people getting sick from it.  Someone would have to have a cut on their hands or eat the poop to really make them sick.  Just use basic hygiene practices and you will be okay and have so much fun with your chickens and children.  I know I have!!!  Good Luck!!!

Now see, you really get me. All of that is completely spot-on. My goal is not to make my dh use hand wipes or sanitizer or whatever (we actually have sanitizer hanging on the run but he doesn't use it partly because his hands are all cracked and it hurts-he has a skin disease that causes the skin on his hands and feet to thicken and crack) but to ease my worries some. And from reading I know there are people here that are even more cautious than I am but the vast majority are what I think of as acting normally-that is, how my husband acts. He does wash when he comes in from outside and after going to the bathroom, etc but I'm trying to not expect him to "wash" or sanitize or whatever before he comes in the door. If that makes sense.

 

[gale65]

You won't get made fun of here - there's no question too "dumb" to be asked. 

Sadly it's already happened. I posted a while back about buying egg cartons and one person was pretty snotty to me about worrying about using used cartons. I guess that's why I was a bit gunshy about posting this. The good thing is that lots of people came to my defense.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Quote:


I'm so sorry that happened. This should be an encouraging place. I'm glad so many stood up for you. Don't let the occasional bad egg stink it up for you.

 

[gale65]

ok here's my scenario (because I'm obviously still obsessing over this. lol)

dh picks up eggs and then touches the door handle
later on someone goes and gets the mail. Touches the same door handle, then touches the mail.
So now is everyone who touches the mail getting chicken egg germs on their hands? See what I mean? Obviously this can't be a big deal or anyone who goes out in public would possibly be getting sick-especially in a farming community like ours. I keep telling myself that but I don't always listen.

Also dh just came in the house (no idea what he's been doing but he has not been gathering eggs this time-but we have cattle too) and opened some of the mail and used the phone. So now I have this irrational urge to clean the phone and the mail. Craziness.

 

[Cebarmlds]

I think it's a good idea to wash hands with basic soap and water after handling anything dirty but hand sanitizers are unsafe for us, the animals and our enviroment because they cause the germs to become resistant and grow stronger. Stay away from any soaps that contain triclosan.
I don't wash my eggs unless they look dirty or poopy and then just before useing them. If I am going to use the eggs in egg nog or some other way they won't be cooked I'll wash them first whether I see dirt on them or not.

 

[Wile E.]

ok here's my scenario (because I'm obviously still obsessing over this. lol)
dh picks up eggs and then touches the door handle
later on someone goes and gets the mail. Touches the same door handle, then touches the mail.
So now is everyone who touches the mail getting chicken egg germs on their hands? See what I mean? Obviously this can't be a big deal or anyone who goes out in public would possibly be getting sick-especially in a farming community like ours. I keep telling myself that but I don't always listen.
Also dh just came in the house (no idea what he's been doing but he has not been gathering eggs this time-but we have cattle too) and opened some of the mail and used the phone. So now I have this irrational urge to clean the phone and the mail. Craziness.

There are a couple of things. Try mind over matter here. For one, we all get germs. We need bacteria to help digest food. They are a fact of life. For two, most of the time, the eggs are dry. Bacteria survive when it is dry, but they aren't really active. Bacteria do the most damage when they have a warm moist area to grow. Often the bacteria aren't what harms you, rather it is the toxins they produce. So inactive bacteria aren't producing anything.

For three, a farming community like yours is healthy. Most diseases are spread indoors. The outside environment is too harsh for viruses to survive. That is why flu season is in late winter, because people spend time indoors. We get the flu because we all congregate in big groups in schools and churches.

Last, a little crazy never hurt anybody.

My wife has some of the same phobias, but I think raising kids has helped her a little bit. Wipe enough butts and you get desensitized a little.

She thinks that raw meat is the most toxic substance known to man.

I on the other hand, am probably too lax, yet I rarely get sick.

 

[gale65]

I think it's a good idea to wash hands with basic soap and water after handling anything dirty but hand sanitizers are unsafe for us, the animals and our enviroment because they cause the germs to become resistant and grow stronger. Stay away from any soaps that contain triclosan.

I've actually done a lot of research on that (no big surprise) and alcohol based sanitizers do not contribute to bacteria resistance. You are right that triclosan does though, and I don't use anything with that in it. We use regular softsoap and original dawn. No antibacterial lotions either. It frustrates me when I go to the store to buy hand soap and 99% of the bottles are antibacterial. I believe there are just two kinds (both made by softsoap) at the store I go to that are not antibacterial. I hate that all of Bath & Body Works hand soaps are antibacterial. I wanted to try them for the scents but won't buy that kind. They have some that are plain but they are expensive and I wasn't crazy about the scents.

 

[gale65]

btw I didn't clean the phone and the mail but I did wash my hands after reading the mail. But I didn't clean the phone. I do clean it once in a while though.