Cold, Flu and Viral Infections Forum - Can Chickens In Yard be Health Hazard ?
Medical questions     Health forums     Help     log in    

Can Chickens In Yard be Health Hazard ?

New Topic  Reply  Ask A Doctor - Offline
Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Cold, Flu and Viral Infections -> Can Chickens In Yard be Health Hazard ?
Medical Questions
Author Message
vjksapp

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 1
Can Chickens In Yard be Health Hazard ?
Posted: 10-21-07 20:03pm

I'm not quite sure where to post this- I can't find an appropriate catagory. I'm going to post it in a few places and see what information I can get. Let me explain...

I live outside the city limits, in a rural country area. I also live next door to my father in-law, who owns many chickens and roosters. They do not live in a coop or a pen, they are living loose in the yard, sleeping in the trees in his yard. I don't mind him having chickens, if that's what he chooses to do, but but I have a huge problem that the chickens run around everywhere and are free to roam and poop in his yard and mine. I have 3 children who regularly walk next door to visit their grandfather, and I am sure they are walking back into our home with chicken feces on their shoes and feet. I have mentioned my discomfort with the chickens, but they are still here. Out of respect for my husband and in order to try to keep on decent terms with the in-laws next door, I haven't made the gigantic deal out of it that I want to. Because we live out of the city limits, there are no city ordinances that I can refer to or try to enforce.

My father in-law loves our children, and I know he wouldn't purposely do anything to harm them. But I don't think he has considered the health hazards of chicken feces in both our homes, in our carpet, and everywhere else. If I could bring him information from medical professionals, not just a complaining daughter in-law, I might could get him to at least put them in a coop or a pen. My last resort is to move. I would hate to take that time away that my children get to spend with their grandfather, but I am so bugged by these chickens that I will move if I can't get something changed.

I have searched on the web, and I just can't find what I am looking for. I am hoping to find some research or some health data that tells that having chickens living free in the yard can be harmful to our health. Maybe I am over-reacting, and maybe there really isn't a danger, but I can't help but think there is. Could anyone point me to a source or send me a link to anything that gives information to support my theory? I don't want to go to him with just, "I don't like your chickens." I want to have some real, true information to back me up. Any information someone could get me would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks more than you know!
Vivian
|
sedum

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 37

Posted: 10-25-07 07:56am

Well, there's avian flu, although probably not a great risk. The USDA also has a free disease-testing service. To find out more, call 1-866-536-7593, or visit their website at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/bird biosecurity

What other than disease bothers you about the chickens?
|
yogahoneybunny

Supporter
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 871
Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0

Posted: 10-25-07 08:17am

Do you feel any resentment to your father-in-law?
|
dudovic

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007
Posts: 26
Location: Delray Beach, FL US

Posted: 10-25-07 17:13pm

How many chickens and roosters are we talking about ?
|
young Girl

Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 13932
Location: everythings better in, texas USA

Posted: 10-25-07 17:15pm

yogahoneybunny wrote:
Do you feel any resentment to your father-in-law?


what does that have to do at all with the op's question?
|
yogahoneybunny

Supporter
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 871
Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0

Posted: 10-26-07 03:05am

Well, often we can displace emotional problems onto situations. That's why I asked if there is any residual anger ... b/c vjksapp is ready to move her family away from the chickens (or perhaps the in-laws).
|
Tylanas

Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005
Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0

Posted: 10-26-07 10:18am

I doubt the chickens are harmful. And easy solution is to make your children take off their shoes before entering the house (maybe have "grandpa-visit shoes") and have them wash their hands immediately.

People have been keeping chickens around just like your father-in-law does for thousands of years, and I don't think I've ever heard of any major health concerns. Yeah, there's avian flu but seriously, don't worry about that. It was confined to Asia.
|
Jump to:  
New Topic   Reply
Medical Questions -> Health Forums -> Cold, Flu and Viral Infections -> Can Chickens In Yard be Health Hazard ?



We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.