Lung pain chickens

Good luck. I also have asthma. Even if my chicks are in my basement, I am aware of it's affect on my breathing in my upstairs bedroom. I did put them down stairs for a week this time due to a difficult hatch and some chicks that needed some extra time to make the "save or cull" decision. But... generally, they get 24 - 48 hours to get settled after they come out of the incubator, then they go straight outside to be brooded with MHP. Getting a respirator mask is well worth it for your own safety... even if you don't have asthma.

Thank you, do the chickens outside bother you?
It's been 2 weeks since the chickens were inside and I'm still coughing and short of breath.
I wonder if it's the lingering dust still bother long me inside the house. I always were a respirator when in the coop, you would think it would go away.

I'm sure the lingering dust isn't helping any.

Get a referral to a pulmonologist or an asthma specialist. Get meds to help! It's not a minor problem! I use a steroid inhaler daily, and have my bail-out inhaler in my pocket ALL the time. I'm not giving up on things that are enjoyable, but still take care of myself. An actual asthma attack is no fun, and can be fatal. Mary

barksy said:

Thank you, do the chickens outside bother you?
It's been 2 weeks since the chickens were inside and I'm still coughing and short of breath.
I wonder if it's the lingering dust still bother long me inside the house. I always were a respirator when in the coop, you would think it would go away.

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Folly's place said:

Get a referral to a pulmonologist or an asthma specialist. Get meds to help! It's not a minor problem! I use a steroid inhaler daily, and have my bail-out inhaler in my pocket ALL the time. I'm not giving up on things that are enjoyable, but still take care of myself. An actual asthma attack is no fun, and can be fatal. Mary

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What she said! I do keep a steroid inhaler handy. I go on that at the least sign of illness. It will sometimes protect me from escalation of illness that progresses to bronchitis and requires one or more rounds of antibiotics to clear up. If I get a respiratory illness it will last at least 4 weeks, often 2 months. And I keep Albuterol handy to use when daily stuff affects my breathing. I'll never understand why people douse themselves and their homes with artificial fragrances. I have a hard time convincing folks that my right to breathe takes precedence over their right to stinky stuff.

So right now I have 2 inhalers one is a steroid. The doctor told me to get a test done and also an allergy test to chickens.
I wear a good mask now and actually get my husband to do most of the coop stuff.
I wash my hand about 40 times a day lol.
Thanks for everything guys.

After two very scary asthma attacks, I finally gave up on denial and had allergy skin testing done. The best thing ever! Showed me what to avoid, and where to be careful, and made things much better. That was many years ago, and I'd highly recommend having the testing done. Mary

Folly's place said:

After two very scary asthma attacks, I finally gave up on denial and had allergy skin testing done. The best thing ever! Showed me what to avoid, and where to be careful, and made things much better. That was many years ago, and I'd highly recommend having the testing done. Mary

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For sure! I don't have asthma, but I am an EMT and can tell you that it's nothing to fool around with.

thanks everyone. I had the prick test done 4 years ago and I get allergy shots. I'm allergic to cats, dogs, grass, birch, rabbits, dust and mold. I don't know if they have a specific chicken dander test but I will ask. The allergy shots have been working amazing.

barksy said:

So right now I have 2 inhalers one is a steroid. The doctor told me to get a test done and also an allergy test to chickens.
I wear a good mask now and actually get my husband to do most of the coop stuff.
I wash my hand about 40 times a day lol.
Thanks for everything guys.

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It's good you've got a grip now on the early symptoms.

Yes, chicks are dusty little buggers. Best to get them outdoors ASAP with a heating pad they can shuffle under for warmth. You can use the 'traditional' heat lamp, but a lot of the heat they throw out has to be wasted.

As for your husband, as cruel as it sounds, don't offer him a mask unless you have one for all the chickens. If there's enough dust in there to bother an adult of average sensitivity, there's too much for the chickens.