Salmonella

[KMurphyVT]

Hi,
I’m new to chickens. I have 8 that are 12 weeks old. They free range usually 4-6 hours a day right now. I have two children (7 & 9) who help out with them, however I’m the only one who cleans the coop and cleans their water out. The kids do like to hold them, but I make sure they wash their hands with soap every time they touch the chickens. I’m still worried about Salmonella and I was wondering how common it is?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is a concern to both the CDC and the APA.
Make sure to not only wash hands but faces (because they kiss them), arms and any other place they touch them.
Transmission isn't extremely common but it is recommended for children to wash up after contact with all animals - dogs, cats, horses, etc.. Kids play outside. Wild birds, squirrels, opossums and raccoons have been nosing around and defecating in the same space.

I think that is why we have immune systems.