What are the possibilities of me catching a disease, virus, or something harmful from my backyard chickens? Very little is transferable from a chicken to a human. Chickens have received a bad reputation in the sense that they carry something in them that will make humans sick. What is the truth? Are there verifiable facts to debunk this myth? Lets look into it.
The CDC says that transmission of avian influenza from birds to humans is very rare. In the USA only 1 person has ever contracted the Avian flu from a chicken. He felt weak and tired after culling hundreds of chickens that had been infested from the virus. The man tested positive as a result of direct exposure to infected poultry at a commercial farm in Montrose County, according to the health department. A small article was written about it here. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/avian-bird-flu-h5n1-colorado-inmate/ Flocks that are confined in over-crowed environments is what causes high stress and compromised immune systems in birds. Since December 2021, 11 human cases of H5N1 have been reported globally. Out of 8,081,004,852 people only 11 were infected. Small flocks are not the problem but the solution
Salmonella
Chickens can be carriers for Salmonella
Salmonella a rod-shaped bacteria that causes food poisoning in human beings and other warm-blooded animals. Named after Daniel Elmer Salmon, a veterinary pathologist who ran the (USDA) microorganism research program in the 1800’s
It is common for all birds to carry Salmonella and Campylobacter. The bacteria can live naturally in the intestines of poultry and many other animals and can be passed in their droppings or feces.
Washing your hands after handling chickens and their eggs will keep you safe from salmonella. Keeping your egg nest clean can ensure your eggs stay salmonella free.