Keeping chickens in the garden: a major health risk for humans

Created: 05/09/2022, 2:30 p.m

By: Jasmin Pospiech

In Corona times, many discovered their love for their own garden.

Some even got chickens.

But that can be dangerous for owners.

Munich – The number of self-sufficient people in this country has been increasing for a number of years.

Especially in Corona times, some Germans discovered their green fingers and spent a lot of time in the green at home.

As a result, some have learned to appreciate not only growing their own fruit and vegetables, but also harvesting them and making a living from them.

This also applies to the breakfast egg in the morning.

Keeping chickens in the garden: a major health risk for humans

Children often seek contact with domestic animals such as chickens.

But that can be dangerous.

(Iconic image) © Christine Tom/Imago

Instead of buying it regularly from the local farmer or in the supermarket, many garden enthusiasts have bought their own chickens.

This is sustainable, inexpensive and a good idea, especially in the event of supply bottlenecks such as those caused by the Ukraine crisis.

But there is also a lot of work involved in keeping chickens in the garden.

Regular manure, feeding and health checks of the chickens are on the daily schedule.

Above all, the latter is very important: Not only so that the poultry is doing well and does not have to suffer unnecessarily, but also for the owner himself. Because chickens are very susceptible to diseases, this is especially true for the internal organs such as intestines and ovaries and fallopian tubes.

In addition, bacteria or parasites can often make things difficult for them.

Keeping chickens in the garden: diseases that can be transmitted to humans

For this reason, it is essential to keep the chicken coop and clutch clean and to carry out hygiene checks.

Otherwise, it can also pose a health risk for chicken farmers.

If blood, faeces and other waste are not removed carefully and regularly, this can lead to major problems.

Especially if you or your family and children have close contact with poultry.

For example, when you stroke them, cuddle them or even kiss them.

Then it can happen that the animals can transmit diseases, so-called zoonoses.

The most common are bacterial diseases caused by Campylobacter or Salmonella.

The two pathogens can cause the following symptoms in humans:

• nausea

• Fever

• Severe abdominal cramps

• Flu-like symptoms

• Vomit

• bloody diarrhea

It is therefore advisable for anyone who wants to keep chickens to register them immediately with the veterinary office and animal disease fund and to subject the animals to worming once a year in order to contain possible infection.