Are there any health concerns from having chickens in an urban environment?
A typical concern is about the spread of avian influenza (“bird flu”). Avian flu is spread by migratory birds, and is currently present only in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. It is not easily transmitted from bird to human. There has been only 1 confirmed case of bird-to-human transmission in the US. Another concern is Salmonella, a bacterium found almost everywhere. Modern practices of hand washing and cooking eggs reduces the risk to an acceptable level.
