Hi All, I am a longtime reader and a first time poster. I am looking to get some feedback on how you all deal with all the dust stirred up by your chickens. 2 years ago we wanted to add to our flock of 10 birds so I built a coup (10x20) inside my 30x60 pole barn with a run attached to the outside. The coup has a concrete floor that we cover with wood shaving and the run outside is dirt. We currently have 40 layers and 25 chicks. The problem is there is a film of brown dust on EVERYTHING in my barn! My tractor, work truck, tools, everything is covered with dust. I know what you are thinking, rookie mistake! I have considered covering the coup with plastic but I am concerned that may have a negative health effect on the chickens. I have also considered installing a fan to suck out the dust while it is still airborne but I am concerned that it would lower the temp in the barn, (we live in Colorado Spring at 7500ft) even lower then it is currently. Thanks in advance for the feedback. Craig
Craig, I'd wait until a day when you can put all the birds out and take a shop vac to the dust. Use the kind with a bag. I have only 12 birds but every 3 months or so out they go and mom vacs the coop, makes all the difference. It's a natural thing- the dust is generated when they groom their feathers down the shaft and they are obsessive about it! Then tarp your tractor and rearrange your tools in a box or something.
I'd enclose the chicken area ASAP or you'll be cleaning from now till doomsday! I have a small coop so I use a bucket of hot soapy water and wash down everything once a month (weather permitting). The shop vac would help alot but it won't keep the rest of your barn from getting ruined.
Hi, Sorry for the slow reply but I was out of town. We are going to try and cover the entire coup with fabric. I am also going to install a low volume fan that will exhaust the dust out into the run. I will let you know who it works. Thanks for the feedback, Craig
Good luck with the dust, my pens are dirt and the dust gets everywhere in dry weather. from South Carolina!
Quote:This is exactly what I was going to suggest. Was happy to see your post when I scrolled down BTW you might want to cover in plastic instead of fabric as the dust will settle more readily on fabric than it will on plastic. Keep us posted on how it turns out.
