I haven't gotten ill yet but I have started being more dillegent about hand washing after touching them. The smell they leave on my hands makes me sick (although I get naseau really easy so what doesn't!).
It amazes me how little I know the more I research. Hygiene around birds was something we learned decades ago because of having caged pet birds from budgerigars to parrots. However, I am constantly learning something new about chickens. After a while some health practices around our chickens become routine but there is so much more to learn beyond every one new thing we discover. I don't assume that because we've always done something one way that it is the only way and am willing to change my practices when something safer, easier, or better comes up.
Because of odorous litter boxes and using its paws to dig around in the litter our indoor cat became an outdoor cat after 6 months - holding or petting a kitty that just used a litter box didn't sit well with me. My Mom was a stickler about not having dogs/cats indoors and after having an indoor cat for half a year we found the feline did quite well outdoors and lived to 17-1/2 years! Same with our dogs - for one they were large breeds and did better outdoors - battling fleas was just no fun for me either and the expense of vet bills, shots, licenses, medications, shelter, toys, accessories, etc just did a number on our budget. And after all the time, training, and money invested in large breed dogs it was difficult to get one to live much past age 10-12. It was fun having these pets throughout the years but eventually decided they were more expensive and less hygienic than we cared to add to our current cottage.
Chickens require just as much of our care and attention as any pet but it's a different kind of experience. They prefer, they thrive, they learn to be very predator-savvy and alert outdoors. We have a separate indoor kennel for an injured or ailing sequestored bird but outside of a health issue the girls stay outside. New birds are quarantined in the kennel for 30 or more days until ready for the outdoor flock and then slowly introduced through a rabbit fence barrier for a couple weeks before total integration. Quarantine was something we always did with indoor pet birds but never in a million years thought about it with chickens so it's a good thing I researched chicken care for 6 months before we set up our flock - and still I'm learning more 4 years later!
Not every one way works for every chicken owner but certain practices are a must - like hygiene care for one - IMO.
