errin allan Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Hi there, I'd REALLY like to start keeping chickens and am in the process of raising funds and convincing my husband! One of his 'concerns' is that as a childminder the children in my care could be at risk from diseases/infection carried by the chickens and/or their waste. I argue that thousands of children have been raised on farms and with chickens but actually am starting to wonder about potential risks. Can anyone help me put my mind at rest and give the parents of the children I care for and indeed my husband a decent answer in this area? Thanks E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 The childrens should love them, and lots of forum members are young children or have young children and we've had no diseases. Omlet hens are fully vaccinated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 I asked someone I know who works at the Food Standards Agency about this. I have a 5 year old and get lots of little visitors. She said that with the 5 and overs it is easy because they should by that age understand something about hygiene and diseases and therefore co-operate when told to 'Wash hands WITH soap. NOW' after any contact with the chickens. In fact we have instigated a wash hands after any visit to the garden approach as we do let ours free-range from time to time. She was against younger ones being allowed any contact unless heavily supervised, given their tendency to put fingers, thumbs etc in mouths, rub eyes etc. I am assuming you probably take under-5s. My feeling is that if the chickens are kept in one area and the children in another there should be no problem. And having the chickens will help them to learn about caring for pets, where their food comes from and of course washing hands properly. What parent could object to that? I don't see any reason why you could not let a young child collect an egg now and then, as long as you go straight in to the house and wash their hands with them. Let us know what you decide to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Chickens are great for an education point of view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 They'll be fine! A few germs are good for children - makes them less likely to get asthma and stuff - i'm sure i read that somewhere. I think things like that are on the rise because we keep kids to clean! Just keep an eye on them and ensure they watch their hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 In this world of Health and Safety madness, you would probably have to do a risk assessment!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Yup I think I can feel a Risk Assesment coming on And YES we do need some dirt and germs around to boost our natural immune systems. That's why I never clean the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I think you should check with your licensing authority. They will advise you categorically and then you will be armed with the appropriate information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I am currently in the process of registering as a childminder. The chickens are classed as pets, as far as our local authority are concerned, so are treated as such. In reality, my chickens are a lot cleaner than my old dog, who used to pee and poo as soon as he was let into the garden, no matter how soon after a walk it was. I also have a nearly 4 year old daughter, and we've had chickens for over a year. She doesn't really touch the chickens much, as she's still slightly unsure of them (they used to sneak up on her and steal her dummy!), but all my children know to wash their hands after they've been outside. It's great for small children to see where their food comes from, and chickens are an easy introduction to caring for animals, without the worries of scratches from a cat, or nibbles from a dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
errin allan Posted November 21, 2006 Author Share Posted November 21, 2006 Thank you for all the reponses - might even print them off and show Mr A when he gets home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 My children are grown up now, but when I was looking for childminders, I would never let them go where there was a resident dog. Chickens would not have bothered me in the slightest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I would have no fear of putting chickens and children together myself, but some parents will be worried. If you are in demand as a childminder and have more business than you can deal with, it isn't really a problem: you will end up with the children who have unneurotic parents. Now that it is winter, the spectre of bird flu is bound to rear its ugly head again when there isn't anything else scary to put in the news, so you will need to have your answers ready (e.g. that toddlers are much more likely to catch bird flu from feeding wild ducks in the local pond than from your hens). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I would have no fear of putting chickens and children together myself, but some parents will be worried. If you are in demand as a childminder and have more business than you can deal with, it isn't really a problem: you will end up with the children who have unneurotic parents. Now that it is winter, the spectre of bird flu is bound to rear its ugly head again when there isn't anything else scary to put in the news, so you will need to have your answers ready (e.g. that toddlers are much more likely to catch bird flu from feeding wild ducks in the local pond than from your hens). Yes, when the Bird Flu hit the headlines earlier this year, in the school I was teaching in at the time, there was one parent who said that her child could not take part in the Cookery Club if raw eggs were being used as she didn't want to take the risk of her child contracting bird flu! Imagine if there had been chickens around - I am suprised we have all lived so long!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 With parents being such eeejits, I am surprised how the human race manages to survive at all I took three of our hens into schol once for their 'food and where it comes from' topic - the children loved it as did the teachers. I told them all to go and wash their hands afterwards. The omlet schols section on the site has some great resources for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I personally think its a great idea, but then, I 'm the person who offers donkey rides to any child I can grab...... Health and safety: pah, but, I guess the only thing you would have to be careful with is taking any children who are feather allergic, and believe me, they are out there... We have a child at our school who is allergic to.... green things.... yes: trees, grass, flowers, shrubs. Its a nightmare and we have to fill out risk assessments for him for EVERYTHING! I really don't see how it could be a problem for you as the birds are outside, and should you ever have a child with these allergies, hey, guess what? They don't touch the chickens! I guess though, in reality, that they would have to be in a different, sectioned off part of your garden, due to the amazing amount of poop they produce! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I see you live in Cornwall errin - I'm a Devon gal, born and raised, and have spent all of my working life in Devon & Cornwall (admittedly as a lawyer not a childminder) but I've seen a good spectrum of devon and cormwall folk during my time and since you're never too far from rural life the chances are a lot of the parents will already have a good understanding/tolerance. My advice would be to get your hens after winter because that will be when any bird flu melodramas erupt. Come spring people will not be so anxious and then you can use the summer months to educate both parents and children on all the joys and benefits of hen keeping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I personally think its a great idea, but then, I 'm the person who offers donkey rides to any child I can grab...... little worrying but cute Looks like your husband has no excuse now I suppose you could limit where the chickens go and put down some hemcore in the run which someone on the forum says makes poo disappear The eglu is a lot easier to clean and manage thana woodern henhouse too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
church chooks Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 There are some serious deseases associated with chickens but generally only when they poo on the same land for a very very long time. If you put hemcore, or bark down you would avoid them. i tend to agree with the 'germs do you good' school but i do have microbacterial handwash for the children - we've had lots of pets through the years and that way at least i know their hands are clean. I won't allow anything like microbacterial stuff anywhere else though. Besides, the children don't need to touch the chickens (though they will). i'd go for it, mine are all teenagers, but you'd be amazed at how many hoody wearing teenagers can gather around a chicken they love the girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
