Humidifier with essential oils good for new chicks?

[rkervell]

I recently had the pleasure of getting my first baby chicks. Three Rhode island reds and two Barred Rocks. I live in Arizona where it is quite dry and like keeping a humidifier with essential oils (for a nice smell) in the room where I now house my chicks. I stopped using the humidifier prior to putting the chicks in the room and haven't used it sinceI am probably being neurotic, but I would like to be safe than sorry. Would the use of the humidifier and essential oils be bad for the chicks health? Any thoughts or experiences on this would be highly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[lazy gardener]

Personally, I would not. Bird's respiratory systems are incredibly sensitive. I have ARD, and would be gasping for breath, and hanging my head out a window, if I was in your house with EO being pumped into the air (no offense intended) and I know that birds are even more sensitive. When I'm incubating, or brooding chicks in the house (chicks go out to the coop after the first 2 - 3 days) I won't use ANY teflon, and am super cautious about any cooking or other odors in their environment.

 

[rkervell]

Personally, I would not.  Bird's respiratory systems are incredibly sensitive.  I have ARD, and would be gasping for breath, and hanging my head out a window, if I was in your house with EO being pumped into the air (no offense intended) and I know that birds are even more sensitive.  When I'm incubating, or brooding chicks in the house (chicks go out to the coop after the first 2 - 3  days) I won't use ANY teflon, and am super cautious about any cooking or other odors in their environment.

Thank you! That is very good insight.