Backyard Poultry and Food Safety: Protecting Yourself and Others While Enjoying Your Flock

— Francesca DiBiase, UMaine Dietetic Intern

My parents have had chickens since I was in middle school. We enjoy the process of raising chicks and collecting eggs. Many people are raising backyard poultry to gain access to fresh eggs, control a section of their food supply, and create educational opportunities. Backyard poultry includes chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and guinea fowl.

Fun Fact: Raising backyard poultry should come with a warning label – it is surprisingly easy to spread harmful germs that can cause illnesses without realizing it.

Good hygiene and food safety practices can help backyard poultry owners enjoy the benefits of their flock while minimizing health risks.

Understanding the Risks

According to the CDC, backyard poultry can spread several different diseases such as Campylobacter, E. coli, Histoplasmosis, and Salmonella. These diseases are commonly found in bird droppings and can spread to feathers, nesting boxes, feed containers, eggshells, hands, gloves, and clothing, such as footwear. While the birds may appear healthy, they carry pathogens without their owners realizing it.

Individuals with weakened immune systems such as those with illnesses or receiving medical treatment, young children, pregnant women, and older adults are more at risk of developing serious health complications if they are exposed to these harmful bacteria. For this reason, backyard poultry owners should practice safe egg handling and maintain clean living environments for their birds.

Safe Egg Collection and Handling

Fresh eggs are a primary benefit of raising poultry at home. Eggs can become contaminated when they are in contact with bird droppings and contaminated surfaces in the coop. To reduce the risk of contamination, eggs should be collected throughout the day. When eggs sit in nesting boxes for long periods of time, they are more likely to become dirty, cracked, and contaminated. Cracked eggs should be thrown out as bacteria can spread more easily through damaged shells.

Maintaining a clean coop is a primary step in practicing food safety. Routine cleaning of nesting boxes, perches, and surrounding areas helps keep eggs cleaner and reduces the spread of bacteria. We schedule time to routinely clean the chicken coop to ensure a safe environment for the chickens.

Steps to Safely Clean Your Coop

1. Remove wood shavings or hay using a shovel. Consider wearing a mask during this process to avoid inhaling dust, bacteria, and fungi.
2. Wipe away droppings, dirt, and egg material using a brush, warm water, and soap
3. Disinfect surfaces once debris is removed. Apply the disinfectant according to the instructions on the label
4. Allow disinfectant to rest on surfaces for the recommended time noted on the disinfectant label
5. Rinse off disinfectant. Allow surfaces to dry prior to replenishing with wood shavings or hay

If eggs are dirty with debris, they can be cleaned with a dry cloth, brush, or fine sandpaper. Freshly laid warm eggs should not be washed with cold water, because the temperature difference can cause bacteria on the shell to be drawn into the egg.

Recommendation: Once cleaned, refrigerate eggs to decrease the likelihood of bacterial growth and preserve freshness.

Cooking Eggs Safely

Consuming raw or undercooked eggs can expose you to Salmonella. Eggs should be cooked until the white and yolk are firm. When cooking egg-based dishes like casseroles or quiches, use a cooking thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the dish reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 71 degrees Celsius to reduce the risk of Salmonella infection.

Recommendation: Thorough cooking ensures eggs are safe to eat and significantly reduces the risk of foodborne illness.

Personal Hygiene Matters

Practicing good hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent illness associated with backyard poultry.

Steps of Proper Hand Washing

1. Rinse your hands with clean, running water
2. Lather your hands with soap
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds
4. Rinse your hands with clean, running water
5. Dry your hands with an air dryer or clean towel

Handwashing should occur immediately after collecting eggs, handling birds, touching water and feed containers, cleaning coops, or coming into contact with any area where the poultry live. If handwashing is not readily available, hand sanitizer can be used temporarily, but hands should be washed as soon as possible to prevent the spread of germs. The use of gloves is also recommended to limit exposure of bacteria.

Additional behaviors that should be avoided to decrease the spread of bacteria:

• Kissing, cuddling, or snuggling birds
• Touching your face, mouth, or food

Keeping Poultry Outside

Poultry should not be kept indoors, especially near where food is prepared, stored, and consumed. Water and food containers, along with poultry cleaning supplies, should be cleaned outside as much as possible to reduce the risk of cross contamination from harmful bacteria into homes. It is advised to have dedicated footwear when tending to poultry and to keep the footwear outside if possible to prevent the spread of bacteria elsewhere.

Recommendation: It is an important food safety practice to keep poultry, their supplies, and clothing materials, specifically footwear, outside of the home and away from food areas to prevent cross-contamination.

Don’t wing food safety, proper prep is no yolk!

Backyard poultry has gained popularity as a rewarding hobby. Responsible flock ownership requires a commitment to food safety.

How to reduce the risk of foodborne illness related to your backyard flock:

• Clean the coop regularly
• Handle eggs properly
• Practice good hygiene
• Cook eggs thoroughly
• Educate family members on the spread of harmful bacteria

Food safety is about understanding the risks associated with backyard poultry and taking practical steps to protect people and animals. With proper awareness and cleanliness, backyard flocks can remain a safe and enjoyable part of life.

Reminder: Whether eggs come from a commercial supplier or backyard flock, proper handling, storage, refrigeration, and cooking practices remain essential for preventing the spread of foodborne illness.

Resources

• Backyard Poultry | Healthy Pets, Healthy People | CDC
• Investigation Update: Salmonella Outbreak, August 2025
• About Handwashing | Clean Hands | CDC

Author

Francesca DiBiase is a senior dietetic intern at the University of Maine, Orono. She is pursuing a Masters Degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition, with plans to become a Registered Dietitian. For the past five years, she has worked as a Dietetic Technician, currently practicing at Maine Medical Center, Portland. She is passionate about providing medical nutrition therapy education and empowering patients to understand how nutrition influences health outcomes across various disease states.