CAMPYLOBACTER: Anyone else had it?

[oliviajordan1998]

Had my chickens (3 silkie bantams) for 3 weeks, then BAM - struck down with a horrific disease which was confirmed to be campylobacter. I won’t go into specifics, but it was horrendous.

Unfortunately the most likely source is seeming to be from my chickens (I will get them tested but even if it comes back negative I can’t fully trust that as they can be intermittent shedders). I’m vegan so it’s less likely to be from food.

I understand chickens naturally carry campylobacter in their gut so there’s not much I can do about that.

I’ve not had my chickens long but I feel like this will definitely negatively affect my relationship with them. If I only caught it after 3 weeks of them being here, there seems like a high chance i’ll get it again. (I have separate clothes to go out and see them).

Anyone else had experience with this?

[Beantree]

I have no experience of this and after all the years of keeping chickens and reading forum posts this is the first time I've heard of it. From what I've read it would only affect you if you have a weak immune system (report published in Quebec) and you are advised to drink lemon juice and plenty of water, unless in an extreme case you need medical treatment. The important point is to wash your hands after touching anything that may be infected, so poo picking then eating crisps would be a definite no. Not just chickens carrying it because you can get it from dogs and cats as well. The normal source is poorly cooked meat, which as you said won't be where you caught it from. It has weak environmental resistance and doesn't multiply on surfaces, so keeping your hands clean should do it.