Can the dust from chicks feathers really hurt you?

[speckledhen]

I bet many people are much more sensitive than others to just about anything similar, just like some are highly allergic to dog or cat dander. If you are one of those, you'd certainly want to take precautions and stay on top of the dusting routines while they were in the house.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I've only had one bad asthma attack since I've had the girls.
that's because I was stressed at my DS and I was cleaning the chicken room...

If you keep up with it, it shouldn't bother you.

When I clean the birds at work(parakeets, conures, cockateils, finches, canaries) they don't bother me...but if I do small animals, I need to have my inhaler right there.

 

[Justino]

Quote:
DS???u mean the nintendo DS???

 

[CarriBrown]

She means "Dear Son"... or D$&^#M Son....

 

[Wildsky]

My hubby had astma as a child, so I didn't keep the chicks in the house very long - I think it was 4 weeks, then I moved mine out onto our enclosed patio (this was in September - still nice and warm)
My hubby never really had issues, and another reason to move them was they were getting too big for the brooder....

My kids never suffered, and they spent more time in with the chicks than anyone else

 

[kstaven]

I think what people here where refering to was commonly called "bird keepers lung". It is caused from not keeping areas clean and the overexposure to the feather casings that powder when a Parrot preens.

If you ever see a parrot in a moult the new feathers are encased in what looks like a translucent straw. That is the worst culprit for problems. Chickens do not have the same severe dust issue as parrots.

 

[picklespickles]

personally, i would not keep them in my bedroom. i keep where i sleep an animal free zone as much as possible. okay naps on the couch dont count. lol.

i am definitely sensitive to many aspects of what we do from hay to dander to cold to the strong excercise. all make me wheeze. and i'm a permanent non smoker, too.

so, i do take it seriously. but i'm not sure that everyone ought to. you can tell by your own body how it makes you feel. if it makes you feel fine, then don't worry.

if you do at some point devlop symptoms, then change the set up.

 

[brooster]

It is Called Birds keepers lung.
Bird-Keepers Lung is the term most commonly used for a respiratory ailment that can afflict, well, bird-keepers, (and their birds). One of the most widely held theories is that it is caused by inhaling too much of the airborne dust from feathers, seeds, chaff, and dried droppings that is so often associated with keeping birds indoors, especially when there is a lot of them and cleanliness is not scrupulously maintained. But we keep our birds well maintaned!

 

[speckledhen]

I think that must be basically the same disease whose description I posted earlier. And I also would imagine it is more prevalent with birds kept indoors permanently like parrots, parakeet, cockatiels, etc. Then you are exposed on a long term basis and also inside your main living area, whereas most people who brood chicks don't keep them in the livingroom.

 

[brooster]

Yes, you should be ok if you can stay out of the coop. I know someone who worked at an egg business, and they had problems. Unless you have birds in the house or you are around them in a confined area a lot then you should be fine.