American health officials are urging people to stop kissing their chickens.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been investigating several outbreaks of salmonella linked to contact with backyard poultry.

A 2016 study from the CDC showed an alarming number of people have apparently contracted salmonella from kissing their fowl friends. 

Of the chicken-related salmonella cases from 1990 to 2014, thirteen percent of patients had shared a smooch with the birds.

Meanwhile, 49 percent had snuggled baby chicks, and 46 percent said they kept chickens in the house. 

10 percent of respondents said they kept chickens in their bedroom.