I think the chickens are making me sick!

[Gonzo]

I have had brooders going since the end of Jan. It was too cold to keep them in the garage, so I had the brooders in the living room. I seems like as soon as the chicks start to feather out, I end up not being able to breathe through my nose, and then it immediatly goes into my chest. I've had 3 sets of chicks that started in the house, and this is the 3rd time I've had this dang cold! I even tried not using wood chips, just newspaper changed daily, and it's not helping! This cold has to be from the chicks! What do ya think?

 

[sourland]

May not be a cold at all. You may be developing allergies to chicken dust and dander. It's a fairly common occurence with pigeon fanciers. "Pigeon lung" is a very serious disease which can cause irreparable lung damage. Exposure to animal danders can cause allergic reactions. I worked in a laboratory animal facility for 25 years. Even though we used masks, I became allergic to rabbits, rats, and guinea pigs. I would suggest that you move the chickens outside or at least see a doctor. If this is an allergic reaction, it can become quite serious.

 

[gumpsgirl]

It's probably the dust, dander, and fluff that you are having to inhale that is doing it.

I keep my brooder a bathroom here at my house and when I take it down, everything, including walls and ceiling, has to be dusted and vacuumed off. The dust is so terrible. I can't imagine having to stay in a room where I constantly had to breath that. It most definitely would make someone sick having to breath it long term. Get those chicks out of there and into a more enclosed area!

 

[Gonzo]

I will in the morning. Our feedstore ran out of brooder lamps, or they would already be out. My doc said its not the chickens.... but 3 outta 3 times? its the chickens.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Google Bird Keeper's Lung or Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis -- not to scare you, but to inform you.


Many doctors do not think of this right away. I do believe you can be tested, blood draw? to see if you do have a reaction to the birds.

 

[allthings'g']

You need to be very careful with this...you need to move the chicks out of your house asap. This is nothing to mess with.

 

[Gonzo]

Ok.... They are out! I made due. Its getting down to 49 tonight. I have 16, 5 week olds, 2, 3~4 week olds and 4 almost 2 week olds. I have the middle age group sharing a heat lamp with the older ones. the garage isn't heated... but with 3 heat lamps, it will be...

I'm just glad I'm not the only one who thinks that this is what making me sick!

 

[allthings'g']

Good move...I hope you feel better fast! I have friends that have gotten 'Birders Lung' from keeping parrots...it can be really bad. After watching them suffer...it prompted me to pare down my parrot collection.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I'm allergic to feathers...it happens hun. Parakeets were my worst enemy but since I let her have her bath each week, haven't had many problems. The worst thing I can do is sleep on ANYTHING with goose down in it.

If it's in your chest, you may need to go to the doctor to prevent Bronchitis or Pneumonia from setting up shop. Sinus infections are always a lovely possibility. Sorry you got sick!

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm glad you got them out.

Now go through and deep clean everything today to get that dust and dander out of there. I promise you will feel better in a few days!