Do Backyard Chickens have Salmonella?

We are yet to find out whether this is true or just an allegation. But here is the question, do backyard chickens have Salmonella?

Mostly, Salmonella is contracted from undercooked poultry products such as eggs. At the mention of the term “salmonella,” almost every backyard chicken owner freaks out.

One in every 20, 000 eggs has been found to contain these deadly bacteria. And this is the main link with which humans, especially those raising chickens, contract it.

The Spread of Salmonella

Your backyard chickens are likely carriers of various germs, including Salmonella.

You are at significant risk of contracting Salmonella whenever you touch them or anything in the backyard where they roam and live.

The Salmonella bacteria spread to chickens through the mouse or rat droppings in damp soil, feed, water, or even bedding/litter.

Eventually, the salmonella germ gets transmitted to humans by consuming semi-cooked or improperly cooked eggs and meat from infected backyard chickens.

On the other hand, the bacteria can be spread by putting your hands in your mouth after contacting infected birds or touching eggs already contaminated by chicken or rodent feces.

Kids below five years old are susceptible to salmonella infection. This happens quite often, and this dreaded pathogen is always transmitted from hand to mouth.

Children of this age are fond of playing with or handling chicks; in the process, they may come into contact with the affected ones.

In addition, the kids have a weak immune system that cannot prevent these bacteria from making them sick.

Backyard chickens might harbor Salmonella bacteria on their bodies and their droppings. These chickens carry these germs on their feet, beaks, and feathers.

To your surprise, some infected chickens may appear clean, solid, and healthy.

But the bacteria can get on coops, cages, feed, water dishes, plants, hay, and soil found within where your birds live and spend most of their time.

Also, these germs can get on your shoes, hands, and clothes if you handle and care for the infected poultry.

Salmonella infection can become so severe that the victims may have to seek medical advice to recover.

The infection is more likely to affect the following groups of people:

Kids below 5 years of age
Grown-ups who are older than 65 years

Symptoms of Salmonella Infections

Fever
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Abdominal cramps
Persistent diarrhea that lasts for more than a day
Vomiting lasting more than a day for babies, one day for kids younger than 2 years old, and two days for older children
Dehydration, dry mouth and tongue, not urinating in three or more hours, and cries without tears
High fever (more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit)
Blood in the stool.

In your case, you may visit the doctor if you show the following signs:

Prolonged diarrhea that does not improve even after two days
Vomiting for more than two days
Signs of dehydration with little or no urination, dry mouth, excessive thirst, dizziness or lightheadedness.

Fever higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit

Bloody stool

Sometimes Salmonella bacterial infection does not become fatal in healthy individuals. This means they can recover on their own without seeking medical intervention.

But it can cause death among the elderly, the sick, expectant mothers, children, and anyone with a compromised immune system.

In chickens, the symptoms may include:

Weak and lethargic birds
Loose green or yellow droppings
Combs and wattles turn purplish
A drastic drop in egg production
Increased thirst
Loss of appetite
Weight loss

Salmonella infection in chickens can be lethal or cause death if not treated in time.

How to Prevent Salmonella in Your Backyard Chickens

The most effective way of preventing the spread of Salmonella is by practicing good personal hygiene.

This means you should always wash your hands after handling your backyard chickens or anything related to them. Additionally, you should keep your chicken coop clean all the time.

Backyard biosecurity is crucial if you want to keep Salmonella bacteria in check. This simply refers to keeping your backyard chickens safe and healthy throughout.

Cooking kills all bacteria, so you must cook your eggs well before eating them. Keep in mind that the practice of freezing eggs doesn’t destroy bacteria at all.

Tips to prevent the infection or spread of Salmonella

Practice Proper Hygiene

You must ensure that you have chicken footwear that can be used only when anyone is entering the coop.
Clean your hands in warm water using soap for about 20 seconds or more after handling hens, chicks, or eggs. Or you may use a hand sanitizer instead of washing your hands in soapy water.
Keep an eye on kids when they are around your backyard chickens. On top of that, teach them not to put their dirty hands in their mouths when handling chickens.
Avoid eating, drinking, or sharing food near your flock.
Never allow your backyard chickens to come into your house. If you notice an infected chick or chicken, you must quarantine them to prevent the spread of Salmonella.

Egg/Meat Safety

Keep all the nesting boxes clean
Get rid of extremely dirty or cracked eggs
Allow the eggs’ natural ‘bloom’ to protect against bacteria rather than washing them.
Keep the eggs in the refrigerator immediately after collecting them to slow down the growth of bacteria.
Before cooking your eggs, make sure that they’re rinsed in warm water
While cooking your eggs, the temperature should be raised to 160 degrees Fahrenheit to make the whites firm
In case you are cooking your poultry, the temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate all bacteria
Keep raw poultry away from other types of food and only use a cutting board dedicated to poultry meat

Safety of Your Flock

Buy new chicks from reliable and reputable sources to minimize the chances of spreading Salmonella bacteria.
Make sure that your flock has a robust immune system
When feeding eggshells back to the chickens, ensure the shells are rinsed and air-dried before crushing and passing them to your flock.

What you need to do when you discover that your backyard Chickens are infected with Salmonella

When you suspect your chickens have been infected with Salmonella bacteria, consult your avian veterinarian for antibiotic testing and treatment.

Alternatively, you may use herbs such as sage to treat your infected flock where you cannot access a poultry vet.

Studies have shown that the culinary herb sage can yield promising results by combating Salmonella bacteria infection in birds.

So, you can prepare fresh sage and give it to your chickens or add some dried sage to their feed. Better still, you may turn to sage essential oils to help reduce these bacteria’s effects.

Adding sage to your backyard chickens’ diet is an effective preventive measure. Maybe that could be why sage is used as a recipe for roasted chicken or other dishes.

Taking preventive measures into account plays a significant role in eliminating Salmonella in your flock.

This is important because some birds may survive this bacteria overload and become carriers. If that happens, such chickens will likely pass the disease to others or humans through eggs or meat.

In Conclusion:

To answer the question as to whether backyard chickens have Salmonella.

The truth is that they get infected with the bacteria and can transmit it to humans or other healthy chickens if not treated in time.

However, the threat of Salmonella bacteria shouldn’t dissuade you from keeping backyard chickens, handling them or enjoying their meat and eggs.

With preventive and curative measures, you can easily contain Salmonella bacteria and keep your backyard flock healthy and productive.

Do Backyard Chickens have Salmonella?

The Spread of Salmonella