I work for a vet, and regularly handle specimens that could potentially contain zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be spread to humans) as well as animals that may or may not have a zoonotic disease or infection. We have one major rule to severely reduce the chance of catching anything from infected specimens or animals; wash your hands, don't eat sh**! That first part is especially important because it often prevents the second part (that, and not leaving open food or drink containers in the lab where they could come in contact with nasties).
There aren't really that many things that you can get from your chickens, and most of them can be stopped short by common sense hygiene. The biggest risks to most people are going to be fecal/oral (salmonella, campylobacter (which I have seen in lots of dogs and cats that have absolutely no contact with chickens), giardia, and worms). The biggest risk to most other animals is going to be fecal parasites (worms and protozoan parasites like giardia) because cats/dogs (especially dogs)/horses/cattle/etc are much more likely to ingest chicken poop or grass/feed contaminated by chicken poop than humans.
There aren't really that many things that you can get from your chickens, and most of them can be stopped short by common sense hygiene. The biggest risks to most people are going to be fecal/oral (salmonella, campylobacter (which I have seen in lots of dogs and cats that have absolutely no contact with chickens), giardia, and worms). The biggest risk to most other animals is going to be fecal parasites (worms and protozoan parasites like giardia) because cats/dogs (especially dogs)/horses/cattle/etc are much more likely to ingest chicken poop or grass/feed contaminated by chicken poop than humans.
Well, you can start with lice. B^)
Actually, you can't. Lice are species specific. Humans, dogs, cats, horses, and cattle can not get lice from birds. Only other birds can get lice from chickens. There are some species of mites that will cross species lines, but all lice are species specific.
Actually, you can't. Lice are species specific. Humans, dogs, cats, horses, and cattle can not get lice from birds. Only other birds can get lice from chickens. There are some species of mites that will cross species lines, but all lice are species specific.
