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Every spring the CDC investigates Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry. The pattern is familiar: new chicks arrive, children cuddle them, and hands go to mouths.
This is not a reason to avoid chickens. It is a reason to adopt a few habits from day one, because the birds that spread it usually look completely healthy.
Why healthy birds still matter
Salmonella lives naturally in the gut of many birds. It ends up on feathers, feet, cages, bedding and the soil where they walk. You cannot tell by looking which birds carry it, so the rules apply to every flock.
The CDC’s rules for backyard flocks
- Wash your hands with soap and running water after touching poultry, eggs or anything in the area where they live.
- Do not kiss backyard poultry, or snuggle them and then touch your face.
- Keep children under 5 from handling chicks, ducklings and other poultry. Young children are more likely to get seriously ill.
- Set aside a pair of shoes for poultry chores and keep them outside the house.
- Keep birds out of the house, especially kitchens and places where food is prepared.
- Cook eggs until both yolk and white are firm.
Chicks need extra care
Most outbreaks start with young birds bought in spring. Chicks are handled more, often live indoors in a brooder for their first weeks, and are irresistible to children. Keep the brooder away from the kitchen, supervise children closely, and make handwashing part of every visit.
Wash feeders, waterers and brooder equipment outdoors, not in the kitchen sink. If you must use an indoor sink, clean and disinfect it thoroughly afterward.
When to see a doctor
Salmonella commonly causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Anyone with severe symptoms, and especially young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, should contact a health care provider and mention contact with poultry.
The fresh-egg washing guide covers another handling task. The coop bedding guide addresses a routine that also brings people into contact with the flock environment.
Questions people ask
Can you get Salmonella from backyard chickens?
Yes. Chickens can carry Salmonella while looking healthy, and the germs spread to hands, shoes and surfaces. Handwashing prevents most cases.
Is it safe for kids to have chickens?
Yes, with rules. The CDC advises that children under 5 should not handle chicks or poultry, and older children should wash hands every time.
Can chickens live in the house?
The CDC advises against letting backyard poultry inside the house, especially where food is prepared or eaten.
Are backyard eggs safe to eat raw?
The CDC advises cooking eggs until both yolk and white are firm, whatever their source.
Where these figures come from
- Backyard Poultry, Healthy Pets Healthy People Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · cdc.gov
Figures last checked September 2026.
