rabies from raccoons

[achickenmom]

I am glad your board is here, vets are not always available to answer questions. My hens were attacked and scalped by something ( raccoon or fox?) There are some droppings around the attack site ( one chicken was almost completely eaten ) that look like dog poop, the yard is fenced.
My question is if it was a raccoon and the raccoon had rabies, will my 2 survivor hens get rabies? A vet stitched them and gave antibiotics for infection, but I didnt think to ask about that and She has not returned my call.
I appreciate your help:yiipchick

 

[tiffanyh]

Rabies is specific to mammals. Although, I believe if salivia was left on the chicken and you came into excessive contact on it, it could --in a VERY slim chance-- be transmitted. Although it is VERY inlikely. It can not live for excessive times outside of the host. That is saying that even if the raccoon had rabies. Your vet would hav ementioned something if they took the time to stitch it up. They are required to revaccinate any cats/dogs that have wounds of unknown origin, so they wuold have mentioned it KNOWING that a raccoon had left the wounds.

Sorry about your chickens.

 

[dlhunicorn]

As far as I know , rabies can only infect mammals...not birds.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

You don't need to worry, birds don't get rabies. It's a virus that only effects mammals. I would carefully remove the poo, though, as raccoons can carry other things, like internal parasites. Try not to worry about that too much, though. It's just a precaution.

 

[mdbucks]

If your chiken starts to foam at he mouth and is no longer afraid of Fire you will have to shoot it, but dont worry you can incubate some of her eggs and get a replacement chick. I saw this In a movie one time so it must be true

 

[SpottedCrow]

I think that's a werechicken, MD...
even scarier than Slifer...shiver...
NO worry about rabies from chickens.