Salmonella is transmitted to humans through infected food (eggs and meat) or animal droppings, especially backyard poultry. It can be found in the droppings and on the bodies of live poultry such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys, even if they look perfectly healthy and clean. While Salmonella does not usually cause serious illness in birds, and in fact even resides in their microflora, for humans this bacteria can lead to serious complications. 

As more and more people are taking up backyard farming, this has resulted in an increased number of registered cases. In the US alone, registered cases of Salmonella infection went from 1,100 in 2019 to more than 1,700 in 2020! And just like with any disease, the data we have at our disposal reflects only registered cases, which means that the real cases can probably be counted in thousands.

The good news is that most of the transmissions can be prevented with very simple steps. Here are some of the essential items you need to take care of in order to prevent getting Salmonella while still enjoying backyard chicken keeping

#1 Keep clean and wash 

Washing hands is the most crucial aspect in preventing transmissions of all viruses and bacteria. Each time after handling backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything else in the vicinity of where they dwell and wander, immediately wash your hands with soap and hot water to avoid spreading the disease. If soap and water are not readily accessible, use hand sanitizer to disinfect your hands immediately but keep in mind that it is not a perfect substitute for a proper soap and water wash.

Other types of contact with chickens such as kissing should be an absolute no-go, regardless of the cleanliness of your coop or how strong your immune system is. Since youngsters have a more fragile immune system, it is advisable to pay special attention as they interact with the birds. Interacting with birds and then touching eyes or mouth area without prior washing is not a good idea. It is also advisable not to wear the same clothes in the house and while dealing with chickens.

#2 Keep distance between your flock and food storage

Keep backyard poultry away from areas where food is cooked, served, or stored. Although direct contact with poultry is the main transmission method, airborne transmission is still a possibility however small.

#3 Check and collect eggs regularly

Collect eggs frequently. Nurtured eggs might get unclean or crack; also, it is advisable to discard broken eggs immediately. Germs on the shell might penetrate the egg more easily through a fractured shell. And lastly, refrigerate eggs after collecting and washing them. Even as you do all this and take precautionary measures, we still advise highly against raw eggs, unless you are as strong as Sylvester Stallone and need to practice for the next sequel of Rocky or Creed movie.

Conclusion

Backyard poultry is fun and exciting. It is a wholesome process that has many benefits. However, backyard fowl such as chickens and ducks can transmit Salmonella infections. These diseases are contagious and may rapidly spread to anything in areas where chickens reside and wander. In majority of cases, you can expect to be down with diarrhea for a few days until recovery however some cases may end up requiring hospitalization. The main message however is not that you need to develop a fear of Salmonella but rather that you need to develop awareness of it and know the simple steps you need to put in place to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Compared to other birds, chickens are known to be quite a resilient species. However, even for chickens, there is such a thing as too cold and too hot. They do not take winter as well as penguins nor do they take heat as well as ostriches by any means. Then, how hot is too hot, how cold is too cold and what can you do to help you birds handle these two extremes? The information provided here will assist you in building and maintaining a comfortable coop for your hens as we will address both how to keep chickens warm during the winter as well as how to keep them cool during summer.

How To Keep the Chickens in the Backyard Warm During the Winter

Chickens in general are well adapted to cold weather. This of course is not applicable to extreme winters in climates penguins strive in but continental winters. Speaking purely from a survival standpoint, cold-weather chickens such as Australorps are capable of surviving in temperatures around or slightly below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit). Warm-weather chickens such as Plymouth Rocks should not be kept at or below forty degrees. Brief runs outside to stretch their legs should be ok if you have time to herd them back into the coop before they freeze.

Here are a few things you can do to provide your birds with comfortable conditions during harsh winters:

1) Install heat lamps and other heating equipment throughout the winter to prevent the temperature inside the coop from falling dangerously low. 

2) Allowing your hens to roost is critical if you want them to stay warm, as chickens instinctively roost in groups and puff their feathers to stay warm. As a general rule, roosts should be constructed at a minimum of two feet above the ground. Having access to a roost that is elevated above the floor gives them a sense of security and keeps them away from the chilly ground.

3) There are also additional ways to assist in keeping a coop warm during the winter. Insulating the coop by constructing walls filled with insulation material is a good additional measure to be coupled with some kind of heating equipment. If insulated walls sound like too much, a simpler option would be to wrap the entire coop with insulating plastic, followed by another layer of tarpaulin.

How To Keep Backyard Chickens Cool During Summer

Severe heat poses a greater hazard to chickens than cold temperatures. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to keep your flock cool and safe throughout the hot summer months. Chickens thrive at temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (~20-25 Celsius) so you'll need to do a few things throughout the summer to ensure your chickens are kept cool.

1) You should provide a shaded area for your flock to rest on hot days. This is one of the simplest yet most critical steps. Our flock loves hanging out beneath the shade of our yard's trees. If the majority of your chicken run space is sunny, and you have no natural shade spots, offer additional shade by putting black shade cloth over it. Additionally, you may rope one of the cool shade canopies between posts, fences, or trees.

2) Hens need a constant supply of cold fresh water. One of the additions to the water could be extra ice in the waterer. If you don't want to use ice, you may alternatively use frozen fruit or veggies and give it to your birds as a refreshing and cooling treat. Just make sure the waterers are kept out of direct sunlight.

Conclusion

Keeping your chicken cool during hot summers and warm during cold winters is very important for the overall wellness of the flock. You will notice your flock is happier since less energy will need to be used up in the process of thermoregulation, or in simple terms maintaining their internal core temperature. You are also very likely to be rewarded in terms of better egg production, which is another reason why taking these extra measures for the comfort of your backyard chickens is worth it. Although this may seem like a lot for beginners, you will discover that chickens are rather straightforward to care for and you will have plenty of chances to optimize the wellness of your birds.

Your chicken coop and roll away nesting boxes, just like your own home, require regular cleaning and maintenance. In the case of chickens however, cleaning up does not serve only an aesthetic purpose but is performed to ensure the health and well-being of your chickens.

Here are the action steps for a perfect coop cleanup:

1. Remove all debris, feathers, nesting materials, stains and bird droppings from the area. This may take some time, depending on the size of your coop. Try to scrape out as much bird droppings as possible at this step because it will make the subsequent steps much easier. Droppings won't soften with water or a cleansing solution so the more you take out now, the less work there will be later.

2. Spray down the enclosure with a garden hose. You'll want to clean up any dust, debris and dirt that has accumulated from your previous scraping and shoveling. If there is a substantial number of debris remaining, repeat step one.

3. Wash every surface of the coop. Pay special attention to window sills, ceiling trusses, and wall sills, as well as any other surface that may acquire dirt and dust. The washing solution should be a mild alkali such as a baking soda combined with hot water at 160°F (~70°C) or above. 

4. Use a natural cleaning product like vinegar to disinfect the chicken nesting boxes and coop. Do not use bleach, since it is far too harsh for animals to bear and can be poisonous to the chickens if it hasn't dried entirely. Vinegar, however, provides very comparable cleansing properties without the unpleasant consequences. Mix equal parts vinegar and water to produce a cleaning solution and mop up the area for an all-natural cleaning. Take a hand brush or a thick broom and clean the floors and walls to free any lingering droppings, debris or dirt.

5. Sweep away any remaining standing water. Once done, let the coop and nest boxes dry naturally. Fresh air will assist to alleviate any lingering vinegar smell (which can get quite strong), and sunlight will aid in the disinfecting process as well.

6. Inspect your coop and make any necessary repairs. This is a good time to look for any coop access points you may have missed out on. These are likely to be used by sneaky rodents so make sure the outside and inside of the building are fully sealed. Fill the hole with a small amount of spray foam insulation, then fill it with fine steel wool and finish with some spray foam.

7. Disinfect. This is the last step in the cleaning process which you may decide to employ. Disinfectants should be used only after properly cleaning the building and equipment, and ideally immediately after rinsing. Disinfecting sprays are easy to use and you are likely to have them around the house even if it wasn't for your chicken coop. A proper, full-on fumigation, may be required in case of any disease outbreaks. You need to be very careful however while performing it and allow for sufficient time to pass before getting the birds back in the coop.

Conclusion

By failing to clean up your chicken coop on a regular basis, you expose your flock to sickness. Individuals who do not regularly clean their chicken coops risk losing birds to infections that may easily be prevented with routine cleaning. Maintaining a clean chicken coop can help prevent the transmission of germs and will assist you in keeping your flock healthy.

Cleaning a chicken coop benefits you in more ways than one as you enter to collect your eggs and smell a clean coop. However, it is helpful to your flock. A clean coop prevents germs from migrating between chickens, while also providing a clean environment for eggs, lowering the quantity of bacteria on your eggs and the time required to wash them. Most importantly, cleaning a chicken coop and bedding allows you to observe any new changes, such as chicken droppings, and respond appropriately.