Handling Live Poultry

*Safe handling tips to prevent Salmonella*

Avoid contact with poultry manure.   Adults should clean cages frequently.

Carefully and thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after handling anything in the chick’s or duckling’s environment.

Do not nuzzle or kiss you chick or duckling.

Keep poultry outside, and especially out of areas where food is prepared

Supervise children when handling poultry, and ensure they wash their hands after contact. Children under 5 years old and people with weakened immune systems should not handle poultry.

Salmonella can cause serious illness, especially in infants and young children because they are more likely to put their fingers in their mouth and because their immune systems are still developing.  Older adults, pregnant women, people on chemotherapy, diabetics and people with weakened immune systems may also have more severe symptoms.

For more information about salmonella visit the CDC website featuring  baby birds & live poultry