Listeria monocytogenes is a gram positive non-spore forming bacteria that is present on poultry products and on chickens themselves. It is zoonotic and raises many concerns for individuals who raise and interact with chicken. L. monocytogenes lives in the intestinal tract of many healthy animals, and is shed in higher amounts due to illness or stress. Beak trimming can lead to excess shedding of this disease, so backyard poultry owners should understand the dangers and the risks of stressing out their backyard flock. This disease has two forms, a septicemic form and an encephalitic form, both are serious and life threatening. In humans especially owners of backyard poultry the disease can bring out major gastrointestinal upset. Those that are most at risk are pregnant women, individuals over the age 65, and those with weakened immune systems. The purpose of this research is to highlight the importance of maintaining good sanitation practices while handling poultry, so that those interacting with backyard birds are aware of the risks associated with listeria monocytogenes.