OK, I love my sister (mother of 3 girls); she is a fabulous person, great teacher, great mom, etc. But, she just has an overabundance of animals in a very small house with very small yard (dogs, bunnies, etc.). Now she wants to get 5 chickens so they can have fresh eggs without antibiotics. I am not sure why she can't just buy the organic ones at the grocery store. Anyway, the bunnies are often in the house and hence you will occasionally have bunny poop to deal with. She is very busy and cleaning is not often on the top of the list. Anyway, I am completely freaked out about this. I see chicken "!$%@" being all over the yard, which will most certainly be tracked in by the dogs. How dangerous is this? You always read about people getting diseases from being in close contact with poultry and their waste. I am pretty forward with her. We have an open relationship. I pretty much told her I thought she was crazy, move to a farm where you can keep animals properly, etc.
I keep a pretty clean house, but I wouldn't say I am germ phobic. I have a pet dog and a parakeet, but I am pretty tidy when it comes to the animals, due to the germ issue.
I am thick skinned, please be honest, I can take it. I pretty much told my husband we would be visiting with my sis and her family anywhere but her house if she does this. He agrees.
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I wouldn't feel bad about your choice.
I don't visit some of my relatives for the same exact reasons - it's just not sanitary and it smells bad and when you visit you don't want to be wondering where the pile of poo is.
I don't know about chickens but it sounds as though she already has too many animals to properly take care of especially if she can't even keep them cleaned up after. Honestly if it was me I wouldn't even be going over with rabbit poo on the floor let alone a chicken mess to clean up.
I have no experience in this whatsoever, but I would say she can do what she wants and your family can respond however you want. Don't want to go over there? Don't. Just be honest and respectful of her decision, but tell her you don't feel comfortable bringing your daughter over.
I'd worry about parasites-worms, giardia, coccidia, but that's about it. All treatable and all can be picked up from dogs, cats, and other pets, as well as contaminated water. Children have lived in close proximity to animals for millenia. Don't sweat it. I think the health issues surrounding contact with the chemicals most people use for cleaning are way more of a concern-endocrine disruption, respiratoy problems, and a litany of others. Now if avian flu breaks out, that's a different story, but for now, I wouldn't worry about it. If all she wants the chickens for is the eggs, she doesn't need five. Two would probably be fine.
Chickens are filthy...and letting them roam the yard is just gross to me! I had a SIL who's daughter kept getting lice...come to find out it was from going to the chicken coop and getting eggs! It had to be burned to get rid of the lice....eeeeewwww!
Wouldn't it just be easier to spend an extra dollar for organic eggs?
~L.
I have absolutely no experience in this field, however I recommend reading this notice from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) relating to this - and pass the article along to your sister. It addresses the potential health risks and offers advice for those still wanting to pursue that option.
I also have SIL who has chickens and all sorts of animals. Let's just say if your sis does't keep a clean home, she won't keep the chicken area/coop clean either, why would she?? I know my SIL doesn't keep a clean home. I won't stay there and we don't like to go there, but sometimes it's a family thing and what are you going to do... We just shower and scrub down when we get home. And believe me, I am not a germ freak, but sometimes it's just GROSS!! My house by no means is clean, I would die if Martha showed up at my door for sure, but I don't think people are talking about my cleanliness after they leave...
Good Luck!!! And do what's best for your family!!
sounds like you already know what to do, just don't go to her house. If she wants a "farm" in her little yard, let her have one. The germs won't effect you if you don't go over there.
