Parrots and Chickens?

[Tangie]

I know that Chickens can definately give Parrots diseases or bacteria, so I don't need to know if it's dangerous to house both. We're getting roughly 60 chickens in about a month(selling about 30), so we'll keep 30. On top of that, we'll have a few turkeys or so. I am going to consider that the Chickens could have any type of disease, and treat them like I would quarantining another parrot(almost). Do any of you have advice on this? Switching shoes in places, ect. Washing your hands, ect. What about showers? Do any of you recommend taking a shower every time after handling chickens? It would convince me to take showers more often though, lol. One of my concerns are about my family. They might switch shoes and wash their hands, but take a shower every time after handling them? No way.

 

[Abigal7]

I grew up on a farm and the pet birds I had never become sick from the chickens. But my dad's chickens never seemed to ever get sick. The chickens had a building (chicken coup) to themselves and lived outdoors while the cockatiel and budgie and conure were indoors. The only advice I can give is wash your hands and do not let your parrots crawl on you when you are wearing the clothes you wore when taking care of the chickens. If all your birds are healthy you should not have much to worry. Now if you had a case of something like bird flue would make things a big concern. I will warn you turkeys get sick very easy and can not be on the same ground or near other fowl. My dad once tried to keep turkeys. He tried to separate them from the chickens by keeping them at the barn but he still lost a lot of them. He never order turkeys from a hatchery ever again.

 

[weco]

Back in the 80s or 90s (don't recall the exact dates) when California was fighting Exotic Newcastle disease they were taking & euthanizing companion birds as well as flocks of chickens, turkeys & I believe other fowl.....a number of people had no option to refuse, euthanasia was mandatory if you were put on the wrong list.....

Drs Foster & Smith published a two page description, with suggested precautions on the 2nd page: Look up Newcastle Disease in Birds: Causes, Signs, Treatment, and Prevention, but the whole thing is worth reading if you're going to get into the chicken & turkey business, then you would probably be wise to contact your local county agent about local laws/requirements, etc.....

Good luck with your new venture......


I believe that END was a problem in several other states around the same time & I think flocks in Delaware were being confiscated & euthanized also.....

 

[JerseyWendy]

Tangie, our 'henpecked' keeps poultry, AND he's got a big flock of parrots, too. You could try to contact him with any concerns you may have.

 

[henpecked]

Welcome to the forum. I hope you're hatching eggs and not buying poults.I have free range turkeys,chickens and also penned quail,pheasants,chuckars,etc. Of course any new birds are hatched from eggs and i don't intro chicks. Worms would be the biggest issue if you buy good eggs from the right hatcheries. A free ranging flock would pick things like that up from wild birds and you could intro that into your home kept fids Not a big deal if you know what to look for. Keeping any amount of birds requires responsible owners who keep up with their flock's health. I haven't had any issues with keeping both but then again i'm very aware of their health and introducing new birds. It's very doable , limit exposure to outside issues and practice good habits.

 

[Tangie]

Thanks for the info guys! I've own both parrots and chickens, but never at the same time. I'm one of the younger people here. Last spring I hatched ducklings by the dozens, introduced Tangie into the house, and I was more careful about not getting her sick than the ducklings sick. She had a disease and died, and I found out the disease found it's way to the ducklings. Many of them died. I have since learned my lesson. I actually was going to order the chicks from Cackle Hatchery. I know I will keep approximately 20 birds. They will not be free ranged, but instead have a large run. I will take all the precautions I can. But I,m sure even if the Chickens were not sick, they might have work of bacteria that their bodies will tolerate, but can make Kiko sick. I also heard that a bad case of Avian Influenza in Washington is happening now. From migratory Waterfowl.

 

[Tangie]

I have another question about this, and I think you can answer this henpecked. What precautions do you take after handling your poultry? If they are healthy and live in sanitary conditions? Do you just wash your hands? And maybe change clothes when you are done handling them?

 

[getwozzy]

We also have chickens... I have a specific pair of boots that I wear outside when making the feeding rounds for everyone, and at this time of year I'm usual wearing layers anyways and gloves... I don't wear my boots inside- they get taken off in the garage, take off coat and gloves, and wash my hands with hot soapy water once I'm inside. I usually don't "handle" the chickens- but I still walk around in their pens and just hang out with them and make sure they have food, water, and whatever else they need.

 

[Birdman666]

Well, a lot of the chicken diseases, from what I understand, are caused by keeping them in less than sanitary conditions.

The poultry industry is not exactly famous for their high standards... especially overseas.

 

[Century Foods]

Thank you so much for such a lovely forum with informative content. Hope to see more of a similar forum.