Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis from chicken coop. Where do I go from here?

Hi All,

I have an old coop that I bought from my neighbor some time ago and was trying to work on fixing it up when I
starting to feel sick. I have been diagnose with Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. Dr says that those who work
around poultry or farming are susceptible to getting something known as farmer lung or chicken coop lung.
She advices people not keeping poultry. I was of course heart broken when I heard this. Lots of people
keep chickens, in fact the movement is growing.

Well my worst fear was my girls making me sick, now that I am sick I am wondering what to do.
I was reading that those who have pet birds can often get sick from them.

Has anyone dealt with this before or something like it? What did you do? Did you keep your birds or
have to get rid of them.

Basically, I don't know what to do, I love my birds and want to keep them but I also don't want to get sick
from them either. Not too sure what way to go here. Any advice from those who have kept poultry for a while
and getting sick from their dander and poo or what not.

Thanks

Man, that stinks. Pigeon keepers are frequently faced with this problem. When cleaning coops or working around bird dander, I always wear a canister type mask that I purchased from Foy's pigeon supplies. It is cumbersome, but it works. I am sensitized to rabbit, rat, and guinea pig urine and dander (worked in a research facility), but only have a mild reaction to bird dander thanks to the mask. As your doctor has made you well aware, this is a serious situation. I wish you the best in whatever you have to do.

So sorry! At least be totally committed to the respirator or facemask or whatever is necessary. Either have someone else do coop cleaning, or again, wear good protection. Coop clothes will need to be managed too, because of the dust. Lotsa laundering and showers! I have asthma, triggered by dog and cat dander and saliva, and I have them as house pets and work with dogs and cats daily. I have learned to love them away from my face and wash stuff a lot. Have you seen an allergist? Pulmonologist? Getting rid of the birds and coop might be the best suggestion from them, but maybe you can work around the problem. Mary

Folly's place said:

So sorry! At least be totally committed to the respirator or facemask or whatever is necessary. Either have someone else do coop cleaning, or again, wear good protection. Coop clothes will need to be managed too, because of the dust. Lotsa laundering and showers! I have asthma, triggered by dog and cat dander and saliva, and I have them as house pets and work with dogs and cats daily. I have learned to love them away from my face and wash stuff a lot. Have you seen an allergist? Pulmonologist? Getting rid of the birds and coop might be the best suggestion from them, but maybe you can work around the problem. Mary

Click to expand...

Thanks Mary. I was really stupid and did not wear my N95 respirator mask when I was working in the old coop. It has been sitting out in the elements for a while and I finally decide to do something about it. I usually wear a mask when I clean the coop and gloves, put my cloths in the washer when I come in and head straight for the shower. I have had chickens for 4 years and never got sick from routine cleaning.

I did not wear the mask when I was working on the other empty coop because I just did not think that I needed it. I was not working in the current coop that the chickens were in. I think it may have been the mold or fungus that may be in the wood that got me.

Anyway, I went to the dr and she said that owning birds is not a good idea, inside or outside. I guess she really hates birds. Anyway, it just really upset me, I don't know what to do now. I love my chickens and take good care of them, I just hate that I got sick doing a hobby that I love. It is one of my worst fears coming true, getting sick from my birds.

No, I have not seen an allergist, I need to because my allergies were so bad this year with the pollen from the trees and so forth. I have two indoor cats and never had problem. Grew up on the a farm, never had a problem, and not this, it just does not make sense to me.


what would you all do? would you take the dr advice and not own birds?

no

I had a couple of frightening asthma attacks while home alone, which finally convinced me to get the big workup. Allergy testing helped hugely, because I found out exactly what my 'hot buttons' are, so I could manage better. I'm confused here; do you have pneumonitis from allergy, or actually histoplasmosis or some other infection? Don't discuss it here, but you need to know what's going on! Have testing done, because that's something that needs specific treatment. I wear a N95 mask in dust, and manage the asthma with inhalers, etc. And still work with and own dogs and cats. I'm not giving up my career or pets, but I am careful! Mary

Folly's place said:

I had a couple of frightening asthma attacks while home alone, which finally convinced me to get the big workup. Allergy testing helped hugely, because I found out exactly what my 'hot buttons' are, so I could manage better. I'm confused here; do you have pneumonitis from allergy, or actually histoplasmosis or some other infection? Don't discuss it here, but you need to know what's going on! Have testing done, because that's something that needs specific treatment. I wear a N95 mask in dust, and manage the asthma with inhalers, etc. And still work with and own dogs and cats. I'm not giving up my career or pets, but I am careful! Mary

Click to expand...

Hi Mary, she said that I had something called Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. Apparently you can get it from mold, dust, fungus or whatever that your lungs don't like.
I have never heard of it before, but it is sometimes called farmers lung or chicken coop disease. I am very sensitive to allergies especially pollen so my allergy
season has been very bad this year.

She said that there is no real treatment for it but to just no be exposed to the allergen that is bothering me. That if I continue to be around it that it could
become cronic and could actually damage my lungs. Well I will admit that I did not wear a mask when working in the old coop. There are not birds in there just
some bugs and tools. I cleaned it all out, I did stir up some stuff but did not really think about it. Till I got sick, went to the dr and told her what I did and that after
I worked on it I felt sick. That is where she mentioned the risk of keeping birds, any birds. That they can make you sick if you breathe in the dust.

Now, I use a mask when I clean the coop and have never felt ill after cleaning just tired. But this was different, this coop is old it does have some mold
and fungus growing on it which I was working in.

that aside, she said that keeping chickens could make me sick, since I apparently have a sensitivity to dust, mold and so forth.

I guess I just hate that I got sick doing something that I love, working with my birds. But man to say that chicken keeping is not good for my health
I am not sure that to make of that. Just scares me. I feel trapped by my own love for my chickens.

Roy Rooster said:

Hi Mary, she said that I had something called Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. Apparently you can get it from mold, dust, fungus or whatever that your lungs don't like.
I have never heard of it before, but it is sometimes called farmers lung or chicken coop disease. I am very sensitive to allergies especially pollen so my allergy
season has been very bad this year.

She said that there is no real treatment for it but to just no be exposed to the allergen that is bothering me. That if I continue to be around it that it could
become cronic and could actually damage my lungs. Well I will admit that I did not wear a mask when working in the old coop. There are not birds in there just
some bugs and tools. I cleaned it all out, I did stir up some stuff but did not really think about it. Till I got sick, went to the dr and told her what I did and that after
I worked on it I felt sick. That is where she mentioned the risk of keeping birds, any birds. That they can make you sick if you breathe in the dust.

Now, I use a mask when I clean the coop and have never felt ill after cleaning just tired. But this was different, this coop is old it does have some mold
and fungus growing on it which I was working in.

that aside, she said that keeping chickens could make me sick, since I apparently have a sensitivity to dust, mold and so forth.

I guess I just hate that I got sick doing something that I love, working with my birds. But man to say that chicken keeping is not good for my health
I am not sure that to make of that. Just scares me. I feel trapped by my own love for my chickens.

Click to expand...

Maybe you should get rid of the old coop, and build a new one. Then you would eliminate the molds, etc.

It does not sound as if you are sensitive to the actual chickens or feathers, specifically?

So continue to wear a mask when cleaning any future coops.

don't just listen to one doctor, get more information about what you have, see another doctor, don't we all have dust and dander in our houses, and occasional mold. I'm not a doctor, but I would think a respirator would work when going in the pen, and I can't see the harm of watching your chickens from afar, get more info about your diagnosis, doctors aren't God,they make mistakes, they can be biased, I went through chemo last year, I was told by my doctor with disgust that I should never go near my chickens, that lasted 3 weeks before I began creeping out to my shed, by the end of chemo I was tending to my birds most days with a face mask on, I figured it was my choice, get yourself educated about your diagnosis and make up your own mind, that being said I'm not responsible for your decision, listen to yourself, I once got a whiff of moldy pine needles once, dang near killed me, there are dangers everywhere, how are you to handle everything else, please don't get sick because of me though

Thanks everyone, I am going to try to get in and see another dr today for a different opinion. Saying that keeping chickens is
not a good idea to me was rather harsh. I mean people kept chickens for generations and did not even have the information that is available to us today
and survived. I think she just may be a little too opinionated about birds in general. I had two cocktails as pets when I was growing
up and they stayed inside all the time. My chickens are at least outdoor animals that never come inside that has to make some difference
in the dander and dust that I inhale. I just don't understand how keeping chickens could adversely affect me, I keep them healthy and clean.
They free range so their dust is spread over a large area. Anyway, I will let you all know what the next dr says. Thanks again everyone!!!

lynnehd said:

Maybe you should get rid of the old coop, and build a new one. Then you would eliminate the molds, etc.

It does not sound as if you are sensitive to the actual chickens or feathers, specifically?

So continue to wear a mask when cleaning any future coops.

Click to expand...

Yep, hubby said that he is going to tear that old coop down and burn it. We are looking into getting a kit coop since we are not carpenters that
we can put together. I am no longer going to mess with this old coop and try to fix it, not worth it.