DUST (how do you get rid of it)

[joebryant]

I've been keeping 14 chickens in a well-ventilated area of the barn for about four months. Dust is THICK everywhere, including the ceiling rafters. It's even hanging from the ceiling like cobwebs. Soon I'm going to have to clean all of the pens in the 12' x 24' area.
How do YOU get rid of their gray dust? Honestly, there is a LOT.
Is there such a vacuum cleaner that would suck it all up with one hose and blow it outside through a window with a second hose?

 

[Rlilchickadee]

I'm not sure, but I think it's caused from wood shavings. I get a little with the horses, but noticed an enormous amount when the chickens were in there. I put them outside and use a stiff corn broom and sweep everthing down and out. I'm sure you could use a vacuum and get anything left after that. Wear a dust mask.

 

[Southernbelle]

A broom. Wear a mask.

I noticed less dust when I switched to compressed pine pellets.

 

[TipsyDog]

Joe - You send Anne in there to clean it. What's wrong with you? Getting soft for Valentine's Day?

Send her in with a shop vac with a BAG in it and it won't blow around too much. Then have her wash down everything with hot soapy water with a shot of bleach added. Works everytime.

While she's doing that, I think you should have a drink and a nap on the couch....

ETA: I just made a hazelnut/chocolate/cherry cake. You can stop by for coffee while she's cleaning on Sunday.

 

[lockedhearts]

Shop Vac

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I was looking at all the dust in ours today too. The coop is at the back of our shed, with a wall made of chicken wire to separate it from the stuff we store in the shed... lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc. The dust on the lawn equipment is THICK. I think we'll have to take the water hose to it all this coming spring. Honestly, I can't imagine trying to sweep that stuff away, I think it would kill us, even with a mask on!

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Trust me; when I said, "I'm going to have to clean all of the pens in the 12' x 24' area," I meant I would have to PLAN how Anne would do it. Oh, gee, ... coffee & hazelnut/chocolate/cherry cake! See ya Sunday, right after I get Anne started.

 

[TwoChicks]

What kinds of bedding do you use? I use pine pellets for my horse and it's AWESOME at reducing dust. I'm going to use it in my coop when it gets built.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
I use pine shavings and diatomaceous earth. Actually though, the dust is coming from the chickens. It's truly unbelievable until you see for yourself how much they can put out in an enclosed area.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Poultry dust is mostly from their feather development and some from the bedding. They have more bedding dust than other critters in the same bedding since they scratch about more. If you have a DE dust bath set up for them that contributes too.

Best way I have found to clean the barn is a huge ventilation fan I have blowing out one end on a windy or at least breezy day with the wind coming from the other end. Then I take the leaf blower and blast all the dust airborne off the surfaces. This is of course after I have taken the bedding out. Not to worry, the chickens will leave on their own.

Mine all free range all the time so they go out when I start cleaning regardless. They come back for the spreading of the new bedding, that's their favorite part.