[SOURIS]

Hello all - another question that I would be grateful for any insight into ... is it ok for pregnant women to be around hens? Are there any risks? We are hoping to start a family soon - I love picking up our new chickens - one in particular is so tame - and cuddly ! - but I don't want to take any unnecessary risks.   I have never heard of anything but thought I should ask the experts! Thanks

[John]

I'm no expert but I've not heard of any particular risk to pregnant women from chickens. As with any animal, you should use caution cleaning out. Usual wash your hands thoroughly stuff.
One possible problem is that rats can be attracted to chicken foods so keep them secure. Rats can give you a disease spread in their urine - Weils - which is nasty for anybody.
The risks are very low so don't get unduly worried.

[The Chicken Lady]

Agree with all said previously. It is lambing that pregnant women should not do. I'm a midwife by trade so know of no dangers from chickens that will not be prevented by sensible hygeine.

[Aunt Sally]

Information straight from the midwife's mouth.  Thanks for that Chicken Lady, I have filed it away in my wooden head  

[muntjac]

never bothered my ex or the daughter .or half a milion other lady keepers having chckens.


as for lambs courtesy of NHS

 Advice to pregnant women during the lambing season

Pregnant women should avoid close contact with sheep during lambing periods, the Welsh Assembly Government Health and the Agriculture Departments advised today.

Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may risk their own health and that of their unborn child, from infections that can occur in some ewes. These include chlamydiosis (enzootic abortion of ewes – EAE), toxoplasmosis and listeriosis, which are common causes of abortion in ewes.

Although the number of reports of these infections and human miscarriages resulting from contact with sheep are extremely small, it is important that pregnant women are aware of the potential risks.

To avoid the possible risk of infection, pregnant women are advised that they should:

not help to lamb or milk ewes;
avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs or with the afterbirth;
avoid handling clothing, boots etc which have come into contact with ewes or lambs.
Pregnant women should seek medical advice if they experience fever or influenza-like symptoms should they be concerned that they could have acquired infection from a farm environment.
 and it never affected my mom and my 17  fellow rug rats   . i think its a case of we feed the animals so many blooming chemicals and other  dodo that these new problems then come out  :x

[Aunt Sally]

it never affected my mom and my 17  fellow rug rats  

 :shock: Are you one of 18 children Munty :?:

Don't tell me there is a whole tribe of Munties out there in the flat lands  

[muntjac]

no sally, we have all been whittled down there are only 7 of us now   :cry:

[The Chicken Lady]

I have looked after at least 3 women that have lost babies after 28 weeks gestation  where the problem has been listeriosis directly linked to lambing. It is more common to cause early miscarriage and women are tested for these problems if they have had or show flu like symptomes. My experience may be above the national average as I live in a rural area where there are lots of sheep