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Children and Poultry Safety

Chickens and other poultry are a popular first animal for children. They are small and easy to handle, but they can carry germs that make people sick.

What is the main risk with poultry?

Poultry can carry germs such as Salmonella without looking sick. The germs can be on feathers, feet, eggs, cages and anything in the coop area. Young children are more likely to become seriously ill.

The CDC publishes official guidance on staying healthy around backyard poultry. Check its current pages for what it recommends, and ask your doctor if you have questions.

The steps are not complicated, but they have to be done every time. Because Salmonella and similar germs show no obvious sign in the birds, the only dependable approach is to treat every bird as if it could be carrying something, even a pet that seems perfectly healthy.

How should children wash their hands?

Teach children to wash hands with soap and water right after touching poultry, eggs, cages, feed or anything in the coop area. Supervise young children so they actually do it.

Set up a handwashing spot near the coop or at the door of the house. A hand sanitizer is a backup when water is not available, but soap and water is preferred. Check CDC guidance for details.

Make handwashing part of the routine, not an occasional reminder. A simple sign by the coop door can remind everyone, including visitors, about handwashing. Children respond well to a routine that is the same every time.

• Wash with soap and water after every contact
• Supervise young children
• Keep a handwashing spot near the coop
• Dry hands with a clean towel

What should stay out of the coop and out of the house?

Keep food and drinks out of the coop area, and do not let children eat or drink there. Discourage children from kissing or snuggling poultry, or holding them near the face.

Keep coop shoes and clothing outside the house, and keep poultry out of kitchens and other places where food is prepared. Clean equipment outdoors rather than in the kitchen sink.

Children under a certain age may be at higher risk. Check CDC guidance for what is recommended for young children. Cleaning supplies and equipment used for the coop should be kept separate from those used in the kitchen, and washed outdoors if possible. Ask your extension office for tips on setting up a clean routine.

What about eggs?

Eggs can carry germs on the shell as well as inside. Collect them often, discard cracked ones, and wash your hands after handling. Check official sources, such as USDA and the CDC, for current guidance on handling and cooking eggs safely.

Do not rely on rules you remember from relatives. Guidance changes and varies by situation.

Teach children to treat eggs gently and to wash hands afterward. If you sell eggs, local and state rules may apply to handling and labeling. Check with your state agriculture department and the USDA before selling any.

How do I keep children safe from injury?

Poultry can scratch, peck and flap, and roosters can be aggressive. Supervise small children, and keep them from chasing or cornering birds. A frightened bird can hurt a child's face or eyes.

Teach children to move calmly and to let an adult handle an aggressive bird. Rethink keeping an aggressive rooster around young children.

Keep coops tidy, with latched doors and good lighting, so children do not trip or get trapped. Chicks and ducklings are especially appealing to children, and especially likely to be held close. Keep their handling short and supervised, and make handwashing automatic afterward.

What about illness and when should I call a doctor?

If a child develops stomach illness, fever or other symptoms after contact with poultry, call your doctor and mention the contact. Do not wait if symptoms are severe or the child is very young.

In an emergency, call 911.

Public health officials track outbreaks tied to backyard poultry. Your local health department or the CDC can tell you what is current. Keep a note of your doctor's phone number near the family's other emergency numbers. In a true emergency, call 911 instead of calling a doctor first.

How can the family set up a safe routine?

Choose a spot for the coop away from play areas, with a place to wash hands. Make a short set of rules, such as no food in the coop, wash after every visit and shoes stay outside.

Ask your county extension office about poultry keeping classes and local rules for backyard flocks, since some areas have requirements.

Review the routine each season, and especially when new birds arrive. Children enjoy having a role. Let them collect eggs, refill water and check the coop, with a handwashing step built into every job.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.