SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/chick-under-five

Should children younger than 5 touch chicks or chickens?

No. The CDC says kids under 5 should not handle poultry.

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  1. No, children under 5 should not ✔
  2. Yes, if a grown-up is nearby
  3. Yes, chicks are gentle with toddlers

Why: Young children's immune systems are still developing, so germs like Salmonella make them sick more easily. They also tend to put their hands in their mouths.

Huh, didn't know that: The CDC says live poultry should not be kept in schools or childcare centers with children under 5.

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Why did the chicken sit on the egg? It did not have a chair.
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References

Answer: No, children under 5 should not. Young children's immune systems are still developing, so germs like Salmonella make them sick more easily. They also tend to put their hands in their mouths.

  1. Backyard Poultry, CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/about/backyard-poultry.html
    Don't let children younger than 5 years old handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other poultry.
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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