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BENTON HARBOR – With rising egg prices and spring’s arrival, community members are considering backyard chickens – and the Berrien County Health Department and Michigan State University Extension are partnering to make sure both people and birds remain healthy.

Each spring, local feed and agriculture stores advertise “chick days,” encouraging community members to buy a baby chick for a child or start their own flock. This year’s decreased egg supply and higher egg costs, along with concerns about the national bird flu outbreak, are prompting even more people to consider raising chickens at home.

“Raising chickens can be a fun and rewarding hobby, however, it is important you are able to provide them with proper care and environment and meet their nutritional needs,” said Elizabeth Ferry, an extension educator at MSU Extension in Berrien County. “You also need to check local laws and regulations. 

“Before you do anything, make sure your township or city allows chickens and, if it does, are there any required permits or flock size limits. You also should research the different breeds of chickens to identify one that meets your needs and the Michigan climate.” 

Anyone considering raising chickens also needs to keep in mind they start laying eggs at 4-6 months old, Ferry said, adding: “Many people think they will buy a cute little chick and in six weeks have fresh eggs.”

According to Ferry, the environment and care needs of backyard chickens include:

• A proper setup for baby chicks, including a brooder area with bedding, feed, water and a heat source. Baby chicks need an extra heat source – heat lamp or pad – for the first few weeks to regulate their body temperature. 
• A proper environment for chickens, which typically need 3 square feet to 4 square feet per bird and bedded nesting boxes. Chickens also prefer an area off the ground to roost in at night. In outside spaces, chickens need a minimum of 10 square feet per bird. 
• The appropriate chicken feed to meet their nutritional requirements, which change as they grow. 
• Access to clean, fresh water – Baby chicks should have a drown-proof waterer. 
• Proper sanitation, which includes clean, dry bedding and regular cleanup and disposal of bird droppings and used bedding. 
• Access to veterinarian care – Like all animals, chickens can get sick.
• A way to keep the chickens separate from wild birds to decrease cross-contamination. 

When considering raising chickens, there are human health and safety considerations to keep in mind, according to BCHD Epidemiologist Sara Palmer.

“All chickens, even those that appear healthy and clean, can potentially carry salmonella bacteria or other germs that can make people sick,” Palmer said. “Additionally, backyard chickens also can be at risk for bird flu if proper care and environment are not provided.”

Bird flu is a viral infection that primarily affects birds but sometimes can spread to other animals and, in rare cases, humans. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with bird flu remains low. In the U.S., since 2024, there have been 70 confirmed cases of the disease in humans and one death. While the majority of these cases are linked to individuals working on affected poultry and dairy operations, some are connected to backyard flocks, underscoring the importance of anyone raising chickens to maintain the health of their flocks. 

Salmonella is a common bacterial disease that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever and/or abdominal cramps lasting four to seven days or more. Children younger than 5, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick from salmonella and other germs carried by chickens.

To prevent illness, anyone caring for chickens should always use proper hygiene and sanitation, Palmer said. This includes:

• Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling chickens or anything around the chickens.
• Avoiding kissing or snuggling with chickens or touching your face or mouth. 
• Supervising children around chickens.
• Avoiding eating or drinking around chickens, their food or items in their environment.
• Keeping chickens out of your house, especially from areas where food or drink is prepared.
• Never wearing the same shoes in the chicken area and in your home.
• Additionally, whether you are preparing eggs from the store or from your home flock, safe food handling and preparation is always important, Palmer said. Cooking poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and preventing cross-contamination between raw and cooked food are key to preventing foodborne illnesses.

More information on backyard chickens and human health is available on the CDC’s Healthy Pets, Healthy People webpage.  

More information about caring for backyard chickens is available on the MSU Extension website. MSU Extension also offers the self-paced online course “Small Scale Poultry Farming” for anyone interested in learning more. The cost is $25 per person. For more information and to register, visit the course webpage.

For more information on protecting backyard chickens from bird flu, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.