Backyard chickens are popular, and the setup questions come before the birds do: local rules, a coop and how to keep your household healthy. This guide summarises what the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about keeping backyard poultry. It is general information, not veterinary or medical advice: check your local rules and talk to a vet who knows poultry before you buy birds.

This guide is based on the public source listed below. We have not tested any coop, book or store. If you plan to build a coop, see our guide to shed planning rules in England and the workshop basics.

What the CDC says

Source: CDC, backyard poultry page (dated 18 July 2025). Last checked: 17 October 2026.

  • Germs. Poultry can carry germs such as Salmonella that cause illness in people, from minor skin infections to serious disease. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at highest risk.
  • Handwashing. Wash with soap and running water after touching birds, their eggs or anything in their living area, and supervise young children. Hand sanitiser is an option when soap and water are not available.
  • Keep birds and gear out of the house. Do not bring poultry indoors, especially into kitchens or dining areas. Eat and drink away from where the birds live, clean cages, feeders and waterers outside, and keep a pair of shoes just for bird care, stored outdoors.
  • Children under 5. Keep them away from chicks, ducklings and other poultry. Do not give baby poultry as gifts to young children, and do not keep live birds in schools or childcare settings with children under 5.
  • Face contact. Avoid kissing or cuddling birds and then touching your face or mouth.
  • Eggs. Collect eggs often, discard cracked ones, and clean dirty eggs gently with sandpaper, a brush or a cloth rather than washing warm eggs. Refrigerate after collecting. Cook egg dishes to 160°F (71°C).
  • Bites and scratches. Wash wounds right away with soap and warm water, and see a doctor if the bird seems sick, the wound is serious, the area becomes red, swollen, warm or painful, or your last tetanus shot was over 5 years ago.
  • Setup. Check local and state rules before getting birds, since many cities restrict roosters. Buy from hatcheries in the USDA National Poultry Improvement Plan, and keep new birds separate for at least 30 days. Use a sturdy coop that is easy to clean and outdoors.
  • Cleaning. Remove droppings first, then apply a label-appropriate disinfectant for the listed time, wearing gloves.
  • Sick birds. Contact a poultry-experienced vet or your local extension agent if birds eat less, have diarrhea, have breathing trouble or die suddenly.

A starter checklist

  1. Check your local and state rules (numbers, roosters, coop distance) before buying anything.
  2. Plan a coop that is sturdy, easy to clean and outdoors, and check whether it needs permission where you live.
  3. Find a vet or extension agent who works with poultry.
  4. Set up handwashing and a dedicated pair of shoes.
  5. Buy birds from a hatchery that follows the National Poultry Improvement Plan, and keep new birds apart for 30 days.
  6. If you buy a beginner's book or checklist, check what it covers, who wrote it and the refund terms. No guide can promise results, and none replaces advice from your vet or local rules.

What we could not confirm

  • UK, EU and Australian rules for keeping poultry, feed and housing details, and how many birds make sense for a household.

Source: CDC, backyard poultry.