Keeping Backyard Chickens

Overview

Keeping backyard chickens means raising a few hens at home, usually in a garden or smallholding, for fresh eggs, pest control or simply because you enjoy them. It can be a lovely hobby, and most people who keep hens stay perfectly well. The health side of it is simple: chickens can carry germs in their droppings, on their feathers and on their eggs. These germs usually don't make the birds sick, but they can make people ill if they get into your mouth — for example from unwashed hands, dirty surfaces, or food and drink shared with the birds. A few simple habits, mainly handwashing, keep the risk very low.

Keeping a few hens at home has become much more popular in recent years, in towns as well as the countryside. Stomach infections linked to backyard flocks are reported each year, and experts think many mild cases are never reported because people recover at home without seeing a doctor. So it happens, but it is not common, and good hygiene greatly reduces the chance of it affecting you.

Anyone who looks after chickens, or who lives in a household where chickens are kept, can be affected. The risk of becoming seriously ill is higher for children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant women, and people whose immune system is weakened by illness or treatment. People with asthma or allergies may also notice chest or eye symptoms from dust, feathers and droppings.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Stomach cramps and tummy pain
• Diarrhoea, which may be watery or, with some germs, contain blood
• Feeling sick or being sick
• Fever, headache and aching muscles
• Feeling very tired and off your food
• Red, gritty or watery eyes after handling birds or cleaning out the coop
• A dry cough or flu-like illness, which is uncommon but can happen after close contact with sick birds

Symptoms in children

• Diarrhoea and vomiting that lead to dehydration more quickly than in adults
• Fewer wet nappies, dry mouth, sunken eyes, unusual sleepiness or irritability — all signs of dehydration
• Children under 5 are more likely to put their hands, toys or dummies in their mouths after playing near hens
• Always supervise young children around birds and wash their hands for them

Symptoms in older adults

• Dehydration and tiredness can set in faster, and symptoms may be more serious
• Confusion or unusual drowsiness can be a sign of dehydration or infection
• Symptoms may be less obvious — for example, feeling generally unwell without much diarrhoea
• Seek advice early rather than waiting to see if it settles

Causes

Main causes

• Salmonella bacteria — common in poultry droppings, on feathers, and on and inside eggs. They cause a stomach bug with diarrhoea, cramps and fever.
• Campylobacter bacteria — the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK, often spread by handling birds or contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth.
• Other gut germs such as E. coli, which spread the same way — from hands, clothes, shoes, tools or surfaces to your mouth.
• Psittacosis — a flu-like illness caught by breathing in dust from dried droppings or feathers. It is uncommon and treatable.
• Bird flu (avian influenza) — very rare in people, but possible after close contact with infected birds. Public health teams take any suspect case seriously.
• Dust, feathers and droppings can trigger asthma, hay fever-type symptoms or eye irritation in sensitive people.
• Small injuries such as pecks, scratches or falls in the garden, and skin reactions to mites or lice from birds.

Risk factors

• Not washing hands after handling birds, eggs, feed, bedding or cleaning equipment
• Cuddling or kissing birds, or letting them near your face
• Eating, drinking or smoking while handling birds or cleaning the coop
• Bringing birds into the house, especially the kitchen or areas where children play
• Cleaning the coop without gloves, or sweeping dry droppings so dust is breathed in
• Children under 5, adults over 65, pregnancy, or a weakened immune system
• Wearing the same shoes indoors that you wore in the run, or bringing dirty equipment inside
• Crowded or damp coops, poor storage of feed that attracts rats and mice, and contact between your birds and wild birds
• New birds added without a short period of separation, or not seeking advice when a bird looks unwell

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• Blood in your poo, or severe or worsening tummy pain
• High fever, shaking chills, or feeling very unwell
• You cannot keep fluids down, or you have signs of dehydration
• A cough, breathlessness or flu-like illness after contact with sick or dead birds — mention the birds to your doctor or clinic straight away
• A red, painful eye with discharge, blurred vision or fever
• You are pregnant, over 65, or have a weakened immune system and develop a fever or diarrhoea

Book a routine appointment if:

• Diarrhoea or tummy upset that lasts more than a few days or keeps returning
• Ongoing cough, wheeze or eye irritation you think is linked to the birds
• You are planning to keep chickens and want advice, especially if someone in the household is pregnant or has a weakened immune system
• You are unsure how to clean the coop or handle eggs safely — your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist can point you to reliable information
• You have concerns about your birds' health — speak to a vet who treats poultry

Diagnosis

There is no routine test for chicken keepers. If you become unwell, your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and ask whether you have had contact with birds, eggs or a coop, because that is a really useful clue. If a gut infection is suspected, they may ask for a stool sample to find out which germ is causing it. If you have a cough, eye symptoms or a flu-like illness after contact with birds, your doctor will examine you and may arrange further tests, and will tell the local health protection team if bird flu is a possibility.

Tests that may be done

• A stool (poo) sample to look for Salmonella, Campylobacter or other germs
• Blood tests to check for infection and how well you are hydrated
• A throat or nose swab if you have flu-like symptoms after contact with birds
• A chest X-ray if you have a cough or breathing problems
• An eye swab if your eye is red and discharging
• A urine sample, which is sometimes helpful in ruling out other causes

What to expect at your appointment

Most visits are a conversation and an examination. If a sample is needed, you will usually be given a pot to return, and results take a few days. Most people are given advice about fluids and rest and get better without treatment. If a bacterial infection is found, your doctor will discuss whether treatment is needed and what the results mean. Nothing about this process is unusual or alarming — it is the same approach used for any tummy bug or chest infection.

Treatment

For most people, a germ picked up from chickens causes a short stomach bug that clears up on its own within a few days to a week. The main treatment is rest and replacing the fluids you lose. Some bacterial infections need antibiotics, which a doctor will only prescribe after assessing you. Eye infections and chest infections are treated according to what is found. Very rarely, someone becomes seriously unwell and needs hospital care for fluids and monitoring.

Self-care at home

• Drink small, frequent sips of water. Oral rehydration sachets from a pharmacy are helpful if you have been vomiting or have diarrhoea — ask your pharmacist which one suits you.
• Rest until you feel better, and stay off work or school until you have been free of diarrhoea and vomiting for at least 48 hours.
• Wash your hands often, especially after the toilet and before preparing food, so you don't pass the infection to others.
• Clean and disinfect the bathroom and kitchen surfaces, and don't share towels.
• Avoid handling the chickens or cleaning the coop until you have recovered — ask someone else in the household to help.
• Wash your hands after touching your eyes if you have an eye infection, and use your own towel.
• Tell your pharmacist if you take other medicines or are pregnant, so they can advise you safely.

Medical treatments

Your doctor will decide whether treatment is needed based on your symptoms, your test results and your general health. Many people need nothing more than fluids and rest. If a bacterial gut infection is confirmed and your symptoms are severe or you are in a higher-risk group, your doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics. Some infections, such as psittacosis, are also treated with antibiotics. Eye infections may be treated with antibiotic drops. If you become dehydrated, you may be given fluids through a drip. If bird flu is suspected, you will be cared for by specialists and given treatment early — this is rare. Always take any medicine exactly as your prescriber explains, and finish the course if you are told to.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is almost never needed for infections linked to backyard chickens. In very rare cases, a serious gut complication might need a hospital procedure, but this is uncommon and would be discussed with you fully by a specialist team.

Living with this condition

A calm, simple routine makes chicken keeping safe and enjoyable. Set up a handwashing point near the coop — ideally an outdoor tap with soap and paper towels, or a bottle of hand gel as a backup (gel doesn't work well on dirty hands, so wash with soap when you can). Keep a pair of boots or shoes just for the run and leave them outside. Clean the coop regularly rather than letting droppings build up, and dampen bedding before sweeping to keep dust down. Keep birds out of the house and away from kitchen surfaces, and store eggs in a clean container in the fridge once collected.

Lifestyle tips

• Wash your hands with soap and water after touching birds, eggs, feeders, bedding or the coop — every time, even for a quick job.
• Supervise young children and wash their hands for them. Don't let children kiss birds or put their hands in their mouths while outside.
• Don't eat, drink or smoke while handling birds or cleaning out the coop.
• Wear gloves for cleaning, and consider a face mask if you are sweeping a dry, dusty coop or have asthma.
• Cook your own eggs thoroughly until the white and yolk are solid — especially for young children, older adults, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system.
• Store feed in sealed containers to keep rats and mice away, and don't let wild birds share your hens' food and water.
• Keep new birds separate for a short while before mixing them with your flock, and check your birds daily so you notice illness early.
• Check local rules — some areas have restrictions during bird flu outbreaks, and some tenancies or councils have rules about keeping poultry.

Diet and exercise

There's no special diet for keeping chickens, but the routine has healthy side effects. Looking after hens gets you outside and moving every day — mucking out, carrying feed and walking to the coop all count as activity. Drink water while you work, especially in warm weather. Wash your hands before eating, and keep your meals well away from the birds. If you have a long-term condition, your usual healthy eating and activity advice still applies.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Many people find keeping hens genuinely good for their mood — the daily routine, time outdoors and the company of animals can ease loneliness and stress. It's also normal to feel anxious or upset when a bird is ill, when there's a bird flu scare in the news, or when the cost and work feel like a lot. If worry, low mood or stress is affecting your sleep, appetite or daily life, please talk to your GP or practice nurse. You deserve support, and it is available.

Prevention

You can greatly reduce the risk, even though it can't be removed completely. The key steps are washing your hands with soap and water after any contact with birds or their environment, keeping birds out of the house, cleaning the coop regularly, and cooking your eggs thoroughly. Wash hands before eating, and teach children the same routine in a calm, matter-of-fact way. Watch your birds for signs of illness, and if you are worried about their health, contact a vet promptly.

Vaccines

There is no routine vaccine for people against the germs chickens commonly carry. Keep up to date with the vaccines you are offered — for example, the seasonal flu vaccine if you are eligible — and ask your GP or pharmacist if you are unsure what you need. If there is a bird flu outbreak in your area, follow the guidance from your local health and animal health services.

Screening programmes

There's no screening test for people who keep chickens, and none is needed. The useful 'check' is a quick daily look at your birds — eating, drinking, moving about and breathing normally — so you notice problems early. If you develop symptoms after contact with birds, mention the chickens when you contact a health service; that single detail helps a lot.

Complications

If left untreated

• Dehydration, especially in young children and older adults, which may need hospital treatment with fluids
• A more serious bacterial infection spreading beyond the gut, which is uncommon but needs prompt medical care
• Persistent or recurring diarrhoea, and a longer recovery
• Reactive arthritis (joint pain and swelling) or bowel irritation after some gut infections, which usually settles over time
• Rarely, a nerve condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome after Campylobacter infection — very uncommon, and treatable in hospital
• Chest infection or pneumonia from psittacosis or, very rarely, bird flu
• Eye infection that can affect vision if it is not treated

Long-term outlook

The outlook is very good. Most people who pick up a germ from their hens feel better within a few days to a week and have no lasting effects. Serious complications are uncommon, and when they do happen, treatment works well, particularly when you seek help early. For the overwhelming majority of keepers, a few simple habits mean backyard chickens are a safe and genuinely rewarding part of home life.

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