Very well written and informative and something we all need. I'm not immunosuppressed but a family member is and in my absence, she may have to feed and water my chicks. Good to know this. Again thank you.
nice review on precautions when handling chickens, especially coop cleaning. Great that bio security is mentioned-protection of your flock is important
This article is much needed and was a huge reminder that I need to be more consistent with my practices. I fail to wear a mask 75% of the time I'm in the coop and my asthma symptoms have been showing up more recently. I thought holding my breath or slipping my shirt up over my mouth while racking the coop would help but it doesn't. From here on out my mask will be close by my boots so I don't forget to put it on.
Thank you for providing an excellent, fact filled article. Even people with healthy immune systems should practice your advice of wearing a mask and practicing bio security in their coop.
I developed organic toxic dust syndrome a number of years ago after going to work in what was considered a high bio security hog concern. I'd worked in hog barns for years and never had a problem but it put me down fast and ended my time in the barns.
I didn't think about the chickens causing me any problems but within 2 weeks I was having severe pain in my legs and back, wanted to go to sleep by 6pm and just felt bla. My husband finally told me to use my nebulizer and do a lung treatment and start wearing a mask around the chickens. Bingo, leg and back pain gone. I'm still tired but that will pass in a few days. I have a number of auto immune issues and a rare disease I have to watch closely that I've probably flared.
Diseases from barns or coops are nothing to mess with. The authors recommendations to wear a mask, have designated clothing and shoes for the coop should be mandatory for anyone entering your coop. Bio security is vital for both your health and the health of your flock.
Thank you again for such an important and well written article.
This covers a lot of the basic precautions for keeping chickens. Great job! I would only add that goggles are very helpful for keeping dust (especially chicken poop contaminated dust) out of your eyes. Not only do they make a barrier to roaming dust, but they’ll keep you from accidentally forgetting about that chicken poop on your fingers, and rubbing your eyes with them! Especially on hot summer days when everything is so dry. Keep up the great work!
Great job. Great info especially for a person new to chickens. Since we have our flock quarantined because of Bio-Security we don't allow anyone other than those who normally work with the chickens to be anywhere near them. They can watch from a distance.
