Easter Chicks Warning - Chicks May Carry Salmonella
Sunday March 15, 2009
Along with rabbits, sometimes live chicks are considered as a gift for Easter time. Some pet retailers have even capitalized on this interest by selling dyed chicks at Easter, a practice squarely aimed at children and their parents (and apparently popular in Asia). And, those chicks are adorable (though frankly I find the dyed chicks a wee bit disturbing). But how many people who buy these chicks think about how they don't stay cute fuzzy (or colorful) chicks for long? I have nothing against chickens as pets (they are, after all, complex social animals), but somehow I suspect a good percentage of the people who fall in love with little chicks at Easter are not prepared to care for the adult chickens for many years. Anyway, many states have instituted regulations aimed at restricting the sales of chicks as pets, including states that ban the sales of dyed chicks. The Centers for Disease Control issued a warning (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 20, 2007) about obtaining or handling baby chicks for Easter. In this report, three Salmonella outbreaks associated with chicks were documented from 2006, and some of the hatcheries implicated in these outbreaks were associated with multiple outbreaks in past years. Many people are simply not aware of the risks of contracting Salmonella from chicks or other poultry such as ducklings. The CDC recommends that children less than five years of age not be allowed to handle chicks or other baby poultry, and that strict hygiene be followed by anyone handling these animals (thorough hand washing, not handling the chicks while eating or near food preparation areas, and thorough disinfection of all surfaces with which chicks may have come into contact). Good advice for anyone considering getting a chick (colorful or not) or anyone who gets a chance to handle chicks on display in other settings such as schools.
Comments
My children, age 6 and 3 handled a chick yesterday at the local farm store. I wasn’t with them so I cannot be certain they washed their hands afterwards. What is the likelyhood they will suffer from a salmonella infection? What percentage of chicks and ducklings actually have the bacteria on their fur, which may have been transmitted to my children’s hands?
Aimee - I’m sorry, I don’t really know the percentages and I can’t find any references. I think it is pretty variable, and it also depends on where they came from and some other factors. When you read about outbreaks it is scary, but I suspect many kids handle chicks without problems (my kids have each been in a classroom where chicks were hatched and kept for a week without any problems, for example). So, awareness and prevention are important, but try not to worry too much about this possible exposure. Best wishes, Lianne
p.s. if anyone does get ill after handling chicks, make sure you mention exposure to chicks to your Dr. in case it is related.
We, my family, have purchased chicks for eggs later when they mature. One chick has a malformed beak. It doesn’t match up, I mean the top and bottom are ascued dramatically. It seems to be able to eat, drink, and function just fine. I was wondering what might have caused it (such as a birth defect or disease), if it is a disease is it contagious, and is there anything we can do to correct it. thanks, Donell
Hi Donnell-
I am not a chicken vet per se, but I do have and love my chickens! Not sure what caused the beak abnormality, but I would think that the likelihood is high that it is some sort of birth defect.
The good news is that the chick can eat, drink and function fine. Once you graduate them off of the chick starter and on to crumble and scratch, make sure that the chick can still eat OK.
I have a gander (male goose) named Harold that was a bit too sassy and took a bite out of my dog a few years ago. My dog returned the favor, and now Harold has a much shorter upper beak. The good news is that he is just fine. I do have to make the available feed deeper than usual so he can scoop it out. The regular “chicken feeder” set up would be fine, but not for Harold, he needs a dog dish that is bigger and deeper.
As long as you keep an eye on the chick with the troublesome beak and make any adjustments for feeding, it will hopefully be fine.
Hi Donell
I don’t know much about chickens, so I am glad Dr. Janet stopped by to comment (she is also the About.com Guide to Veterinary Medicine). From my limited knowledge, I’d agree with her assessment, and also hope you chick continues to do fine even with the beak problems
Lianne