Baby Chicks making me sick?

[StephensonC]

OK...this is crazy I know! But, I have been in high gear raising my chickens, since back in the summer. I have loved everything about them, interacting with them and researching new topics concerning them. I have not gotten tired or complained one bit about scrubbing feeders & waterers, tending to them in the rain, raking up poop on just about a daily basis, washing eggs, etc. I have been on BYC more times than I'd like to admit, and I'm sure my Facebook friends are tired of seeing chicken pictures that I post. Well, I decided a few weeks ago, that I was going to hatch some eggs, bought an incubator, put them in and they hatched 4-6 days ago. I have the brooder set up in my bedroom, so I can keep them in a warm place, free of drafts, and can keep my dogs and cat away. Here's the deal. Since they started hatching, I have been so sick with nausea and don't care if I ever see another chicken. Yes, I'm taking care of them, and had even ordered more hatching eggs in the meantime. I DID NOT even want to incubate them, but felt obligated to, since I had payed for them. Everytime I picture eggs in the bator, I get a huge wave of sickness. Even reading about chickens on BYC makes me nauseated. I've never been one to have a weak stomach. I even did eggtopsies on the ones that didn't make it. I've lost that excited feeling now and I miss it tremendously. I know my chickens miss me coming around quite often. Anyway, back to the babies in the brooder, in my bedroom. I am feeding them medicated chick starter. Is it possible that their food is what's making me sick? There's good ventilation in there, but the door is always closed. Has anyone ever heard of humans getting sick from the medicated food?

 

[sourland]

You may very well have become sensitized to the dander/dust that they create. Do an on line search on 'pigeon lung disease'.

 

[StephensonC]

You may very well have become sensitized to the dander/dust that they create. Do an on line search on 'pigeon lung disease'.

"Acute illness is characterized by sudden onset of malaise, chills, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and nausea 4 to 8 hours after exposure to the offending agent."

I am having all these symptoms since they hatched. I thought it was just a cold to begin with, then it just kept getting worse. I have moved the brooder and cleaned very well. Hopefully, it will subside soon!! Thank you so much!

 

[donrae]

Their medicated feed can not make you ill, but all the dust and dander they put off sure can. Don't brood in the house, and especially not in a closed in bedroom

. All that dust you're cleaning off every surface in the room is going in your lungs---ick.

 

[goldfinches]

Do you have a garage? That's where I brood mine until they're old enough to be outside. They make so much dust and dander, it gets on everything. Get them out of there!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

"Acute illness is characterized by sudden onset of malaise, chills, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and nausea 4 to 8 hours after exposure to the offending agent."

I am having all these symptoms since they hatched. I thought it was just a cold to begin with, then it just kept getting worse. I have moved the brooder and cleaned very well. Hopefully, it will subside soon!! Thank you so much!

Oh no! That's not good! Hope it passes real soon!

 

[3riverschick]

Get the birds out of your bedroom! That's the problem. When they start to shed down,
it creates a very fine dust. Run your finger over any surface in your bedroom. See that
fine dust? It's not regular dust. It's down dust. Don't dust it off. Use an all surface cleaner
and a damp rag and wipe off everything carefully! Been there with that dust. Wash the curtains
and vacuum the carpet with a HEPA filter vac. I learned the hard way this year, Never raise
chicks in any part of your house that humans use. You have been breathing in that fine dust
all night as you slept. I have a royal mess on my front enclosed porch from the down dust.
Not allergic to it but it is quite the job to clean up! Put them in a part that's not human inhabited.
Get a nice 85 watt incandescent flood light which is not Teflon coated and use to heat the brooder.
They will be fine. My Husband, who is a retired Respiratory Therapist, previously working in the
heart lung transplant ICU, is adamant the birds need to get out of the human inhabited areas.
He was not happy I raised the chicks on the enclosed front porch and he was right. I am really
eating crow right now. Never again.
Best,
Karen

 

[StephensonC]

It has been getting down to the lower 30's F. at night. If I put them in the barn or under the carport with a heat lamp, would they be ok? There are 8 of them now. (1 died)

 

[AmericanMom]

It has been getting down to the lower 30's F. at night. If I put them in the barn or under the carport with a heat lamp, would they be ok? There are 8 of them now. (1 died)

I have a brooder tub and from the time they are two days old and I know they are eating I put them out on the porch (covered) they have a lamp and I have not lost any to cold. at about two weeks I move them out to the Rabbit house (which is open on one side but protected with chicken wire) again, I have not lost one.

 

[ImNotYogi]

Now Im a little concerned when I get my chicks. As of now, I have the brooder partially built in my bedroom. I cant think of a place here where theyd be safe. My front porch isnt screened and garage has been used as a storage shed by the landlord for years. The carport as well. Would it be better if I just slept on the couch until theyre outside?

Edit: or if I placed the brooder in the closet?