Which hatchery had problems with Salmonella?

[besjoux]

I guess I'm a bit nervous because we DO have young children and I am pregnant. I'll also be primarily dealing with the chicks when we get them end of June. Should I be concerned?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...kbbvRw?docId=3844038d7e0147b6bd95b1c560a71ad6

 

[littlethorn]

From what I read it was not a super bug, but people were actually putting chicks IN the Easter baskets. Seems to me that putting something that steps in poop with candy would be a bad idea, but obviously other folks did not figure this out.

Like others have said, you should always be washing your hands after you handle your pets and their stuff anyway so I don't think it is something to become overly alarmed over.

 

[Pele]

This is actually an issue that I personally have with a lot of people who own pets. Any kind of pet.
Animals lack the capacity to be sanitary in any way. So it's up to you to have the sanitary practices (but also don't go overboard).

Your mouth is the main gateway bugs use to get to you. Animals, their body parts, their feces, and their mouths should NOT EVER go near your mouth. Yes this includes dogs. Think about it, what is the one thing that dogs LOVE to do when they come across chicken poop? Yes, the answer is 'eat it'. Now let your dog kiss you, and tada like magic you get sick.

You don't have to lug sanatizer around like a lifeline, or daintily walk a huge circle around chicken-poop, or even put rubber gloves on up to your elbows, just wash your hands when you're done, and don't put them in your mouth before-hand.

Also, no kissing baby animals, no matter how cute they are. All it takes is a chick getting it's head stepped on by another chick with poop encrusted feet (very common event). Put your mouth on that cute chickie head, and again... tada... sick.

I think the moral is that humans just need to keep their mouths to themselves, and stop viewing 'outbreaks' and 'infections' as lurking around every corner. Just be reasonable in what you put your mouth against, and wash your hands. That's it, no magic formula, no bleach, no sanitizer addiction, no plague-masks, no lasers, no deathstars or stasis chambers, or any of that fancy stuff.

 

[brahmabreeder]

It was MT. Healthy but they are fine now I think. We called them and the problem was people were treating the birds too much like pets and not farm animals. Really as long as your sanitary about everything you should be fine.

 

[EweSheep]

CDC described an eight-year investigation into salmonella illnesses, with more than 80 percent of the cases tied to a single hatchery in the western U.S. While CDC officials refused to identify the business, a previous report on the investigation by the health agency indicated it is in New Mexico.

This sounds like Privett Hatchery. They are located in NM.

Like everyone else said, practice hand washing and santitation and you will be just fine!

 

[Oregon Blues]

If you handle chicken poop, wash your hands before you put your hands into your mouth.

It is not an issue if you use ordinary sanitation practices.

 

[Texokie1]

I read an article today on CNN (link below) of an outbreak related to a hatchery in Ohio...I was concerned b/c I ordered my chicks from Meyers in Polk, OH. I know chicks will naturally carry some salmonella in their gut - but I am wondering if this strain is particularly virulent, or if the hatchery chicks have a very LARGE salmonella load. I am a bit of a freak with the hand-sanitizer for myself and my son, but it is still worrisome. (I use non-medicated feed, which may promote a heavier bacterial load, too.) Thinking about asking the vet if they can run a culture to determine if my gals have a problem they could pass along to us...

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/31/cdc-salmonella-outbreak-tied-to-live-poultry/?hpt=he_c2

 

[Adenium]

Interesting. In general I feel like having backyard birds would mean a little less exposure to all things nasty - since they're not living in nasty condiitons and being pumped full of antibiotics to survive them.

However, since my order is coming in two weeks from MPC (hence really from Meyer) this is food for thought. Thanks for posting the link.

 

[off-grid hen]

This article does not alarm me. Poop has germs in it, no matter what animal it comes from, chickens, humans, or otherwise. Anyone who handles an animal that walks through its own poop and doesn't wash their hands is asking for trouble.

There are types of bacteria that are spread by cats to as well. It is recommended that pregnant women shouldn't be handling the litter box, and be wary of cat scratches.

Your procedure for you and your kids handling chicks should be the same whether or not you read this article: don't kiss the chicks and wash your hands after handling them or cleaning their living space.

Enjoy your chicks.

 

[Mskayladog]

My grand daughter is 4 and I have taught her not to touch her face when we are in the coop. I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in a pocket and make her use it as soon as we step out of coop then Straight to bathroom to wash her hands. I also got her a pair of rubber boots to put on she does not wear her (princess shoes ) or tennis shoes into the coop.
Yesterday she was feeding them wild strawberries and she knows they peck hard so she invented strawberries on a stick, she had a small twig and stuck the berries on the tip and fed the chickens that ways! I was so surprised at her inventiveness.
I still have to remind her, but it's better then when we first started with the chicks.