Torrin Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 My husband and I have both suffered this year from horrible stomach bugs that have gone on for weeks and weeks. Both been tested at different times, samples all came back clear. Today my OH spoke to the doctor who suggested that given all the symptoms and results it was possible we have had salmonella poisoning OH then googled salmonella and told me you generally get it from undercooked chicken (not likely as I'm very careful) or from eggs which have had poo on their shell Is this right?? Should I stop eating my eggs?? Does it mean my chickens have an illness or is this just something all chickens have in their poo?? Don't want to be over dramatic but i give away quite a lot of eggs (most of my eggs are never pooey, but there is the occasional dirty egg which I just store and wash prior to use) and I'm worried about giving others something nasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 It is possible yes, as well as other nasties like camylobacter and coliforms. That's not meant to be alarmist!!! The only way to be sure is to get a droppings sample tested for it. Your vet can do this, or you could contact Retford Poultry. Their website seems to have been down for a while, but they are definitely still operating. The contact number is 01777 703 011 or email on enquiries@retfordpoultry.co.uk. Good luck and hope you both feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 If your hens are commercially sourced hybrids, the chances are they have been vaccinated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Surely your results would have been positive for salmonella if that is what you had yet you said they were negative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrin Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 The hens are from Omlet, so yes I'm sure they were vaccinated. Is it something that needs doing again? I assume they either didn't test for it CM or else it's not something that always shows up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrin Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 Or else, of course, it's something totally different - the doctor didn't actually know - or it may be that we've picked it up somewhere else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 If you gave them a faecal sample which I assume that you did it would surely have been tested for salmonella and campylobacter automatically (can get campylobacter from dogs too if you have one that has been squitty) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrin Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 I will have to call the doctors surgery tomorrow and ask them to confirm if they did test for salmonella if you think this should have been a routine test. Don't know if they'll have the answer or not - might go down the route of finding out how much to get them tested at retford poultry, as I just know my OH's going to say he won't eat the eggs and I shouldn't give them to anyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Sorry, I honestly didn't mean to alarm you! I still have a price list from Retfords and the cost for Salmonella testing is £10. They will send you a poultry testing kit for a couple of quid. You only need one sample testing and you can mix the droppings from all birds in that sample. It sounds as though your chickens shouldn't be carrying it though. But, if you want peace of mind, it's not a huge price to pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I would start at the beginning and ask what exactly you were tested for. Are you now both well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrin Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 Thank you Jools, I have emailed them already and no, its def not a huge price to pay so I can be sure! Chucky Mama, no, not really. My OH has been unwell since his birthday 9/4 and although he is feeling much better, not there yet. I was unwell for about 7 weeks over Jan and Feb and then fine, until a couple of days ago when I'm worried it's come back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipistrelle Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 There has been some very nasty tummy bugs going around this year (mainly over winter) and our village was hit by one which seemed to take ages to go and could keep reoccurring so it might just be one of these. Hope your Dr can put your mind at rest. As an aside, we never wash our eggs, is that something we should be doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoura Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Your chickens should have been vaccinated against salmonella and you would definitely have been tested if you sent stool samples for analysis. No harm in doing the stool testing again though if symptoms are persisting (should be 3 samples taken on consecutive days by the way) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I genuinely wouldn't rush into getting your chickens tested until you have good reason to. I would ask your doctor what they tested for and if necessary ask to have another sample from both of you tested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Me and my 10-month old son both had sickness bugs for about a month in total (two bouts each lasting 5 days in my poor son's case, and feeling pretty lousy in between) and it was really awful - but nothing to do with salmonella as it was before I got the chooks, my doc said it was just that we're a sick society at the moment and loads of viruses are doing the rounds. The good news is, we'll all have loads of immunity for next winter - well that's the theory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mabelandflosmum Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 To reply to the washing of eggs, I was told not to as eggs are porous and the poo can get through the shell. Do any of you experts know if this correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Egg shells are porous. They have a natural 'bloom' on them which protects the egg contents from bacterial harm. The poo won't go through the egg shell, but by washing eggs you destroy the egg's natural defences. However, really we shouldn't be selling dirty eggs which is why some people do wash them. But I would recommend storing eggs in their natural state and only washing any particularly mucky ones prior to actual use. I'd also keep any mucky eggs for home consumption and not sell them! Of course, the best thing to do is to prevent problems by keeping the nestbox as clean as poss, but we all know mud and poo do travel! Sorry for going off thread a bit Torrin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrin Posted May 21, 2010 Author Share Posted May 21, 2010 So apparently salmonella would only have shown up in our samples within about the first week of being poorly - when they don't take samples cos it's 'just a tummy bug' so by the time they tested us we were clear. Can however cause ongoing gastronenteritis for some time - this is the doctors theory anyway! Going to get the chooks poo tested by retford just in case - and to reassure OH mainly - but I'm not sure it a) was salmonella in the first place and b) we caught it from our chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 Ahhh.. Thats awful. I hope they have not got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
