Can you kiss your chickens?

“Don’t kiss or snuggle the birds, as this can spread germs to your mouth and make you sick,” the health agency said. It warned that poultry, like chicken and ducks, can carry salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean, and these germs can easily spread in areas where they live and roam.

Why shouldn’t you kiss your chickens?

Says After Salmonella Outbreak. More than 160 illnesses and dozens of hospitalizations have been reported across 43 states, officials said. “These are not house pets and a lot of people confuse that,” a poultry educator said.

Can humans get viruses from chickens?

Although keeping backyard poultry can be fun and educational, owners should be aware that poultry can sometimes carry harmful germs that make people sick. These germs can cause a variety of illnesses in people, ranging from minor skin infections to serious illnesses that could cause death.

Is it okay to hug chickens?

Researchers warn backyard poultry, like chicken and ducks, can carry the bacteria and people should avoid touching them. The CDC recommends people wash their hands immediately after touching backyard poultry or their eggs.

Can backyard chickens get salmonella?

Backyard poultry, like chicken and ducks, can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam.

How do you prevent salmonella in chickens?

Water management. Water management is a crucial part of any Salmonella control program in poultry, since water can serve as a medium for the organism to spread from bird to bird. Chlorinated water and the use of organic acids in the water have been shown to reduce Salmonella levels in the flock.

Is it bad to touch chickens?

“People need to handle poultry safely.” While some salmonella can get into eggs, most infections happen when someone is handling their chickens and the birds’ fecal matter gets on their hands. Don’t let kids under 5 handle or touch chicks, ducklings or other live poultry without adult supervision.

Should you touch chickens?

(WRDW/WAGT) — The Centers for Disease Control are warning people against too much poultry interference due to risk of Salmonella. According to the CDC, owning “backyard chickens” and handling them can be dangerous and cause owners to get sick, then spread infections to other people.

Can you get sick from cleaning out a chicken coop?

Infection may occur when you’re handling live poultry, too, when you are cleaning out your coop area,” said Davison, who gets calls everyday from backyard bird owners. Chicks and ducks may appear clean to the human eye, but they can still carry salmonella.