Image by salofoto from Pixabay
If you got baby chickens this Easter or caved during the feed store “chick days,” your backyard flock is probably close to laying their first egg.
Resist the urge to kiss them for it!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently added an update to the Salmonella illnesses and hospitalizations related to backyard poultry.
And it is scary!
The CDC announced this year’s backyard poultry outbreak on May 23, 2024. A significant number of Salmonella illnesses had been reported with backyard poultry traced back as the source.
This is not surprising. Springtime means baby chicks. With it comes a new Salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry.
So far, there have been 195 illnesses associated with backyard poultry. Of which, 86 were added in the last month. There have been 50 hospitalizations so far. Including 17 added this month. There have been no deaths associated with this outbreak so far.
A significant number of cases (41%) are in children under five years old, involving one of our most vulnerable populations.
Young children.
In fact, the majority of illnesses associated with this backyard poultry outbreak are children. The median age in this outbreak is 14 years. However, people of all ages have become sick. Current outbreak statistics indicate an affected age range starting at less than one year old. The oldest patient in this backyard poultry outbreak so far is 93.
Last year’s outbreak started with a hefty 104 illnesses. By the end of the outbreak, 1,072 people had Salmonella illnesses associated with backyard poultry. A significant 247 were hospitalized in 2023.
This year, however, cases are coming in a bit earlier. More cases in March were reported than in the previous year.
Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The true number of sick people is likely much higher than those that make it into the report. Most people recover on their own without medical intervention and are therefore not tested for Salmonella. Without this test, which prompts an epidemiological interview to help investigators determine the source of the infection, the illness goes unnoticed.
Even with this potentially missing data, this early report shows illnesses on par with last year’s backyard poultry statistics. And we are in danger of surpassing it.
Could this be a sign of a more significant outbreak this year?
While the category of “backyard poultry” is the indicated source of this outbreak, no single hatchery or location is identified as a sole source.
Actually, several strains have been identified so far in this outbreak.
At this time, there are Salmonella Altona, Salmonella Cerro, Salmonella Indiana, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Johannesburg, Salmonella Mbandaka, and Salmonella Typhimurium strains involved.
An outbreak is generally linked to a common source. However, in the case of backyard chickens, it is a generalized source. Statistics are meant to understand the influx of illnesses and attempt to track down hot spots to help prevent additional illnesses. The investigation and notice are also meant to spread the word, in an effort to promote more safe practices, and help reduce the incidence of illness.
Those cute little bundles of fluff carry the same risk as older feathered friends. But they don’t stay baby chickens forever. Eventually they grow into full blown chickens. Which can still be cute. But add another potential level of risk.
As your Spring baby chickens are maturing into pullets and ready to lay their first eggs, these can potentially put your family at risk if not handled properly.
If you are raising your baby chickens like pets instead of livestock (as many people do) you may be tempted to celebrate this accomplishment with them.
It is a rite of passage after all!
Resist. The. Urge. To. Kiss. Them.
Seriously!
Don’t do it.
Reward them with a fun snack. Frozen corn. Watermelon. Just don’t put yourself or allow your family to be in danger.
You may be thinking, “Not my babies.” But even clean, healthy birds carry Salmonella and other germs. These germs can easily spread around areas where the birds live and roam, as well as on the bird itself and their eggs.
People become sick from touching poultry, (including baby chickens, older chickens, and any poultry animal or things in their environment) and then touching their mouth or food.
A few simple steps can be the difference between enjoying your chickens and a hospital stay.
Salmonella can cause illness ranging from mild to so severe it is life-threatening. Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever usually begin sometime between 6 hours and 6 days after coming in contact with the germ.
Best case scenario, these symptoms can last about a week. Usually, four to seven days.
In some cases, however, more serious illness occurs. This is especially true for those in higher risk groups, such as young children (under five), the elderly, and those with a compromised immune system. Even bloodstream infections that can cause serious problems with the brain and spinal cord, heart, bones, and blood vessel linings.
Does this mean you should rehome your chickens, never get baby chickens again, and return to mediocre grocery store eggs?
No.
But don’t bock poultry safety, keep and egg-celent eye out when children are interacting with your flock, and follow these simple tips to help reduce the risk of Salmonella illness.
The golden rule of avoiding most illnesses is to wash your hands. So, it is no surprise that it comes up here. Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after touching your birds, their eggs, or anything in the area where they live and roam.
They may be adorable fluffy butts and have sweet personalities. But never kiss or snuggle your backyard poultry. Whether baby chickens or full grown, egg-laying birds, they can all spread Salmonella.
Keep supplies that you use to care for them (feed containers, toys, etc.) outside of the house. Do not bring them inside to clean them. Fill water containers outside. Never in your kitchen or bathroom sink. If possible, keep the shoes you wear in the coop outside. Dedicated chicken shoes are a great purchase.
Young children are more vulnerable to germs like Salmonella. Supervise children at all times when around your flock. Make sure they properly wash their hands after interacting in with the chickens or are in the areas that they live. Children under five years old should not touch baby chickens, adult chickens, ducklings, or other backyard poultry.
The best part of owning chickens is fresh eggs. But unlike those obtained from the grocery store, these eggs come straight from the chicken and require a few extra steps. Collect eggs often so that they do not become soiled. Never save cracked eggs. Even if the crack is small. Germs can easily enter the egg through tiny cracks in the shell. Rub off dirt on eggs with a brush, cloth, or fine sandpaper. Refrigerate eggs to keep them fresh and slow the growth of germs. Always fully cook eggs until both the white area and the yolk are firm and reach an internal temperature of 160° F.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Your Baby Chickens Are Nearly Ready to Lay Their First Egg! Resist the Urge to Kiss Them for It!,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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