Controlling Dust in the Coop

[illinoishiker]

What are some ideas and experiences on controlling the dust buildup in the coop? I have concrete floor and it's a pole building. I use straw for the litter. I scrub the whole coop twice a year --- spring and fall. An amazing amount of dust builds up. I can't hose it down in the cold weather. What are ways others deal with dust or maybe keep it from getting too much? At least it is a dry coop.

 

[sourland]

Increased ventilation can help, but dust does build up.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

Birds in general produce tons of dander (bird dust) so your not going to eliminate it but straw bedding breaks down causing fine particles also. Maybe try bigger wood chips or hemp bedding. Hemp bedding is expensive but from what I hear well worth it. You could run a air purifier which catches dust in the filters but that would also be a expensive step and probably without much impact on the problem.

 

[illinoishiker]

Straw is easy and cheap to get here. But wood chips might work well. Be less dusty when break down. Thanks. I also suggested blowing it out in between washings but my husband said that was a very crazy idea. Of course would wear a mask and visor but still might not work well or not be healthy for me. The birds would be outside.

 

[3KillerBs]

What's your ventilation situation? Can you show us pictures?

 

[Geena]

I also suggested blowing it out in between washings but my husband said that was a very crazy idea.

Not crazy at all. I use a shop vac for everyday dust clean up. Then twice a year or so I don safety glasses and dust mask and blow the coops out with a leaf blower. Works great!

 

[Sally PB]

I had a sand dust bath inside the coop for a while. Terrible amount of dust. I took that out and things got a lot better. I also switched to hemp bedding and love it. Yeah, more expensive, but worth it to me.

 

[illinoishiker]

I looked up the hemp. It is expensive. My coop is 12X18. We were planning to divide it and let the rescue cats use half but decided against it. So the birds have a large coop. Nice for them. I might give the hemp a try though. And blowing out the coop between hosing down. Thanks for good ideas from everyone.

 

[illinoishiker]

It's a pole building. With the ridge cap and the vents on the overhanging parts. (I'm not good with what all those parts are called.) Have big windows with hardware cloth can shut up tight in cold weather and open during the day. I think the ventilation is good.

 

[illinoishiker]

If can clean it by blowing out in between hosing it all down that would help a lot I think.