SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/chick-wash-hands

When should you wash your hands with soap and water around backyard chickens?

After touching them or anything where they live and roam.

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  1. Only after holding a sick chicken
  2. After touching chickens or anything in their area ✔
  3. Only before eating dinner

Why: Healthy chickens can carry Salmonella on their feathers, feet and beaks. Touching feeders, waterers or the coop counts too.

Huh, didn't know that: The CDC suggests keeping hand sanitizer near the coop for times when soap and water are not handy.

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What did the soap say to the chicken keeper? Twenty seconds, then we can be friends.
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References

Answer: After touching chickens or anything in their area. Healthy chickens can carry Salmonella on their feathers, feet and beaks. Touching feeders, waterers or the coop counts too.

  1. Backyard Poultry, CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/about/backyard-poultry.html
    Wash your hands with soap and running water after touching backyard poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam.
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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Test yourself in the game

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That's stuff everyone should know.