Salmonella in Chickens: Everything you Need to Know

Chickens are a big part of our gardens and our family. We may spend a lot of money making sure they have comfortable coops inside with beautiful outsides. And we want to make sure our chickens are healthy and comfortable. So it is easy to forget that the same salmonella which exists on large scale farms could potentially invade our perfect little hen domiciles. Even though salmonella is naturally occurring in our chickens, salmonella is easily preventable. Here’s everything you need to know about salmonella in chickens.

Before jumping in, let’s be clear. The incidence of salmonella in backyard flocks is very rare by comparison to that in commercially raised hens. Still, it’s good to understand what it is and how it happens in order to make sure the practices and hygiene we are following is appropriate to keep our chickens and ourselves healthy.

This article specifically deals with salmonella in backyard chicken flocks and does not address the risks of salmonella while traveling, from commercial food processors, or from large scale farms or meat and vegetable producers.

What is Salmonella?
What Causes Salmonella infections?
Salmonella Symptoms in Chickens
Salmonella Symptoms in People
Preventing Salmonella in the Chicken coop
Preventing Salmonella from Spreading; Hygiene, Eggs, and Compost
References

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a naturally occurring bacteria carried by chickens and other animals. There are many strains of salmonella; far too many to list. The three which are most important for chicken keepers are salmonella gallinarum and salmonella pullorum, which can sicken your flock, and salmonella enteritidis, which can be passed to humans through their eggs.

S. enteritidis is especially important as it is one of the most common and widely spread of all the human foodborne illnesses. Additionally, S. enteritidis can spread extremely easily.

What Causes Salmonella Infections?

Chickens can get salmonella infections from contaminated feed, or by coming into contact with infected animals, such as wild birds, mice or rats. You could potentially also purchase a new chick who has the disease passed on from her mother, the commercial breeder hen.

Salmonella is usually passed from animals to people through fecal matter. Salmonella is often associated with chickens and eggs, because their fecal matter can become dusty and airborne, and therefore the bacteria can be breathed in even if you don’t touch a bird. It is more prevalent in the summer because the hot weather creates an ideal condition for the bacteria to grow.

Salmonella can also pass from a hen to her egg, then to you if the egg is contaminated and not fully cooked.

Salmonella Symptoms in Chickens

While all chickens can get salmonella, most chickens do not exhibit symptoms. Salmonella generally only affects very young chickens or weakened and older hens. Young chicks will be lethargic, inactive, and huddled near a heat source. It could also be a cause of slow development or poor growth. Older chickens and those who do exhibit symptoms will also become inactive and will sit during the day in the “don’t bother me” position, with their tail down and their eyes closed.

Depending upon the strain and the health of your flock, your adult chickens may never show any signs of infection, and egg production may not be affected. However if you are hatching some of your own eggs, an infected bird may have low hatching rates.

Additionally, salmonella can spread rapidly across your flock, and then to you. So even if your flock shows no symptoms of the disease, its always important to practice excellent hygiene around your hens and coop.

Salmonella Symptoms in People

Similarly, while anyone can get infected with the salmonella bacteria, many healthy adults show mild symptoms or may not show symptoms. According to the CDC, the true number of sick people in any salmonella outbreak is probably much higher – 30 times higher – than reported, as many people recover with no testing and no medical intervention.

However the very young and the very old, as well as those that are immuno-compromised are at the highest risk of becoming sick. And of course, those exposed repeatedly to infected hens have a higher risk, too.

Symptoms in people generally occur within 6 hours to 6 days, and could last for up to 7 days. The most common symptoms are headache, nausea, diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. According to John’s Hopkins Medical Center, because these symptoms are common, accurate diagnosis can only be done with lab tests. Most adults recover without the need for medical intervention, but in some severe cases an IV line and/or antibiotics are needed.

Preventing Salmonella in the Chicken Coop

Purchase your chicks or hatchlings from a reputable source. Make sure that the hatchery or breeder is certified (USDA-NPIP) and that their flocks are tested for diseases. Salmonella can pass from the breeder bird to the chick, and then pass from that chick to the rest of your flock.

Always keep your chicken feed in a dry, covered area with excellent ventilation to prevent mold and bacteria. Ensure that no other birds or rodents have access to the chicken feed.

Always provide clean, fresh, or sanitized water for your flock. You can boost the water with a soluble probiotic powder.

Do not allow wild birds or rodents into the coop or near your chickens. For that matter, do not allow any wild animals or predators near your coop. Salmonella can be passed to your flock from other infected animals. Wild birds especially are often carriers of the bacteria without exhibiting any symptoms.

Preventing Salmonella from Spreading – Hygiene

Always wash your hands after visiting the henhouse, whether you touch the chickens or not. Be especially cautious when treating or handling chickens, and try to keep your face away. If you are looking after someone else’s chickens, make sure to wash your hands before and after visiting their hens, as salmonella (and other conditions) can very easily pass between flocks.

Have a pair of dedicated shoes for the coop and always take them off prior to entering your home.

If you suspect salmonella, do not allow toddlers under 5 years old to handle poultry, or to kiss or snuggle birds, as the risk of transmission and sickness is too high. They may easily put their fingers in their mouth at any time after touching a sick bird.

Clean the coop frequently, in cooler weather if you can, and always wear a mask and gloves when you do it. Chicken poop does not remain on the floor like that of other animals. It can become aerosolized and therefore it is possible to breathe it in. It can also settle on surfaces. Your goal in cleaning the coop is to keep the amount of feces and dust in the coop low. If you have a shop-vac, that is a great way to remove dust from the coop. Keeping the dust down will mean less of it to breathe in. Once the dust is vacuumed up, use a bleach solution to kill bacteria.

Remove all of your clothing after a coop cleaning and wash them and yourself immediately. Otherwise the dust could get into the house.

Preventing Salmonella from Spreading – Eggs

Collect your eggs frequently, so that they do not have dust settling on them. Also, you want to prevent all egg breakage. If eggs do break, clean the area up thoroughly. Always toss any cracked eggs. Scrape off feces or debris from any soiled eggs. Do not use water as that could assist the bacteria to penetrate the porous shell

Sometimes chickens lay eggs with no shells. They only have a soft membrane holding the egg together. This happens when they are young and just learning to lay. It can also happen right out of molt when they are building up their energy stores. These eggs, similar to a cracked egg, will spoil quickly if not removed from the coop right away. If one has been in the box for more than a few hours, toss that too.

Salmonella is destroyed when you cook the egg. So even if salmonella exists in your coop, as long as you completely cook your eggs you are safe. Runny eggs and soft yolks will not be safe. Homemade mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, uncooked cookie dough or meringue which uses raw eggs would also not be safe. Also note that if using a utensil such as a fork to beat or whip raw eggs, you must use a clean utensil when cooking and eating, otherwise the bacteria would be transferred to the cooked eggs

Preventing Salmonella from Spreading – Compost

Always compost or age your chicken droppings in a compost pile prior to using it in your garden. A proper compost pile should get above 140 degrees, which is enough to kill salmonella and other pathogens. If you are only aging the chicken droppings rather than heat composting, it should age for at least 90 days prior to applying to your edible crops. This allows enough time for the bacteria to slowly die off. Use gloves and a mask when turning compost.