How do you all deal with it?!?!

[ncgnance]

My advice is to wear a face mask anytime you're cleaning or stirring up the litter. I have COPD, and the last time I cleaned out the barn AND the chicken house, all in one day, I wound up with, according to Urgent Care, pneumonia. Took me 3 weeks to get over that. They told me to ALWAYS wear a face mask when cleaning the animal houses. Call me stupid....I cleaned out the barn and chicken coop yesterday, no mask...going to Urgent Care in a little while....

 

[AHappychick]

One of the other BYC members used the pellets for bedding instead of chips he says it makes a lot less dust, I was thinking of trying that myself. I believe you can get them a feed or horse supply store.

 

[SoccerMomof7]

I use straw and the dust is horrible, worse then with the wood shavings but I think it stays fresher longer. I just thought the dust was normal with the chickens. I have horrible allergies but I just deal with it.

 

[BayCityBabe]

Quote:
I just researched histoplasmosis. Any immunocompromised chicken-keepers need to very cautious... I am healthy, but I still *try* to remember to wear a mask when I muck out the coop.

Here's a link:
http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/histoplasmosis_gi.html

 

[Chicken Salad]

I'm getting myself used to it by having a WOODSTOVE.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Thank you so much for all of this information! And ncgnance, I hope you get better soon.

Looks like I have another thing to put on my shopping list. Thanks everyone!