Health note: This guide is general information, not veterinary advice, and our writers are not veterinarians. If a bird is sick, injured or not improving, contact a poultry vet, and always follow product labels and your vet's instructions for any medication. How we write health content.
Eating chicken poop is risky for dogs mainly because droppings can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and can spread from the dog to the people it lives with. Many dogs that pick up these germs show no signs at all but still shed them. This guide explains the documented risks, what is overstated, and practical ways to keep your dog out of the coop.
Key Takeaways
- The main documented risks are bacteria, especially Salmonella and Campylobacter.
- Chickens and dogs can both carry these germs while looking healthy.
- Common chicken coccidia and worms are bird parasites and are not the main concern for dogs.
- Separate dogs from the chicken area and wash hands after contact with either animal.
- See a vet if your dog has diarrhea, vomiting, fever or lethargy.
Correction: an earlier version of this article listed ten health risks, several of them invented (pancreatitis, allergies, dental fractures, blockages and pesticide poisoning), and wrongly stated that chicken roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and coccidia commonly infect dogs; those claims have been removed.
Why dogs eat chicken poop
Eating feces (coprophagia) is common in dogs. As part of normal exploratory behavior, many dogs are attracted to and eat feces, compost and prey. Dogs that are confined for long periods or understimulated can also learn the habit.
Occasionally there is a medical cause behind it, so if your dog suddenly starts eating feces or seems unwell, ask your veterinarian to rule one out.
The real risk: bacteria
Poultry shed germs in their droppings, and birds can look healthy and clean while still carrying them. The two that matter most for dogs are Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Salmonella
Dogs infected with Salmonella can have vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite and low energy. Many infected dogs show no signs, but they can still shed Salmonella in their stool and saliva and spread it around the home, to people and to other pets.
Campylobacter
Campylobacter jejuni infections in chickens usually cause no illness in the birds, so a flock that looks fine can still carry it. In dogs, infection can cause diarrhea, fever, lethargy and sometimes vomiting, and clinical disease is more common in puppies than in adult dogs. Many infected dogs have normal-looking stools. People can catch it through direct contact with the feces of infected animals.
Children under 5, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness from these bacteria.
What about parasites?
Many articles claim dogs catch chicken worms and coccidia from droppings. Veterinary references do not support that as a general risk. Coccidia in poultry are generally host-specific. The common chicken roundworm, Ascaridia galli, is listed with bird hosts such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and quail, and chicken tapeworms need intermediate hosts such as flies, beetles, ants, slugs or snails.
Dogs have their own parasites, so keep your dog on the deworming and fecal-testing schedule your veterinarian recommends.
How to keep your dog out of the droppings
- Fence the coop and run so your dog cannot get in.
- Supervise your dog whenever it is near the chickens, and keep it on a leash if needed.
- Clean up droppings in shared areas and keep manure or compost where the dog cannot reach it.
- Train a reliable “leave it” and reward your dog for ignoring droppings.
- Give your dog enough exercise and mental work; feeding part of its meals in puzzle toys that need chewing or manipulation is one approach veterinarians suggest.
- When you cannot supervise, prevent access rather than relying on training.
Separating dogs and chickens also protects your flock. For more on keeping germs out of the coop, see biosecurity for chickens.
Protecting your family
- Wash hands with soap and running water after touching chickens or anything in the area where they live and roam.
- Wash hands after handling your dog, its dishes or its poop, and after contact with dog saliva.
- Wear gloves when cleaning the coop and keep a pair of shoes for chicken chores outside the house.
- Pick up dog poop promptly, even in your own yard, especially where children play.
Coop dust is a separate concern for people; see inhaling chicken poop dust.
When to call the vet
Call your veterinarian if your dog has vomiting, diarrhea (especially bloody), fever, loss of appetite or lethargy after getting into chicken droppings, and mention the chickens. Puppies and older or sick dogs deserve a quicker call. Only a veterinarian can decide whether treatment such as antibiotics is appropriate.
If your chickens become sick or start dying suddenly, keep your dog away and report it to your state veterinarian or USDA at 1-866-536-7593, because some poultry diseases such as avian influenza must be reported.
FAQs
Can dogs get Salmonella from chicken poop?
Yes. Poultry can shed Salmonella in their droppings, and dogs that eat it can become sick or carry the bacteria without signs and pass it to people.
Can my dog get worms from chicken poop?
Common chicken coccidia are host-specific, and chicken roundworms and tapeworms are bird parasites, so they are not the main concern. Keep your dog on its own vet-recommended parasite plan.
My dog ate chicken poop but seems fine. What should I do?
Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, fever or lethargy, wash your hands after handling the dog, and call your veterinarian if signs appear.
Why does my dog keep eating chicken poop?
It is often normal exploratory behavior, sometimes made worse by boredom; occasionally there is a medical cause, which your vet can check.
Conclusion
The risk from dogs eating chicken poop is real but narrower than often claimed: it is mostly about Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can affect both your dog and your family. Keep dogs out of the chicken area, clean up droppings, wash hands, and call your vet if your dog gets sick.
Sources
- CDC: Backyard Poultry (Healthy Pets, Healthy People)
- CDC: Dogs (Healthy Pets, Healthy People)
- FDA: Get the Facts about Salmonella
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Enteric Campylobacteriosis in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Coccidiosis in Poultry
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Overview of Helminthiasis in Poultry
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Behavior Problems of Dogs
- USDA APHIS: Signs of Illness
Checked September 2026. Labels change, so always read the label on the product you buy. See our editorial policy for how we research health articles.
