[nerdle]

I got a message today from a retired nurse - it's a really bad idea to let hens into the house as it can cause respiratory problems.

We are a bit set in our ways now - I just love having them around and they love to come in on rainy days...

Oh dear - is she right?

[mumofstig]

The risk is very slight IMO

It's the dust from cleaning that causes any problems..... H&S advice here.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/poultry/guide.htm

[Kevin67]

+1 with mos.

You and your girls enjoy it, life is too short and the risk so small. Enjoy each other's company!

[GrannieAnnie]

Poultry has a fine dandruff like dust on them.  After all the years I have spent rearing chooks and turkeys, and helping Brian pluck them, although it has made me cough at times.  I've had no lasting problems, and I'm still alive and kicking.

I know the chickens have never been in the house, apart from the odd sickly ones, but I have spent many hundreds of hours in the hen houses with them.

So Like the others have said, the risk is so small in your case, just enjoy them.   

[nerdle]

You are saying all the right things!  In the right order!!!!

[GrannieAnnie]

Don't let people spoil your pleasure for such a silly thing Needle.  How many poultry keepers do you hear of with respiratory diseases?

[Kevin67]

How many needles make a Nerdle? 

Let's hope she gets the point.   

[barley]

I often find mine indoors when the doors open in the summer - that's me done for then 

[Kevin67]

That's an amazing photo.

I wouldn't fancy cleaning the mess, though!

[joyfull]

I have had my sickly ones in the house plus one very inquisitive one who I found upstairs in the bathroom - and yes she did a pooh up there  .
I do have asthma so am a little wary but so far no problems and I've never had to use my inhaler around them.

[nerdle]

My living room is a lanscape of stitched together towels with a garden trellis 'fence' to corral them in.