My son is allergic to his new chicks

[Larkin]

We have 2 week old chicks and my son is suffering greatly. His eyes itch, his nose is stuffed, and it sounds like he has a monster cold! Can't use a nettie pot for him because he's only 8 and freaks out when I try. He takes a allergy pill daily for allergies to pollen but it doesn't help him at all with the chicks. Poor boy likes to go out to the coop and visit the chicks so we'll have to go into town and buy him a good dust mask and maybe have him wear his swimming goggles while he is in there. It's a very well ventilated and clean/new coop so he must be very sensitive to them. Wish us luck!

 

[LizGled628]

Poor guy! Is this your first time with chicks? Maybe it's the wood shavings? I find that when I change their bedding I get really stuffy. Sounds like you are doing all the right things though. Good luck!

 

[sunshine23]

I feel your pain

I think I'm allergic to them too. I've been horribly sick since I got them. I've been stuffed and coughing non-stop, I even had a pretty bad sore throat for 4 days and I don't even have tonsils anymore. Hopefully we'll get used to them

 

[downstownlady]

Pine shavings drives me and my husband right over the edge with the allergies. I have decided to switch to sand and just use pine shavings in the hen house and nest areas, unless I can come up with a better alternative.

 

[sunshine23]

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well, now that I think about it, I did get some allergies when I got the pine shavings before they even got here so that might be my problem as well. Is there anything else besides sand I can use in their brooder which is just a big box

 

[ams3651]

some people use old towels or shredded newspaper in the brooder. I immediately thought of the shavings as well. Hope it gets better.

 

[luvchicks8]

I would also change the bedding as well it is worrth a try good luck!

 

[Larkin]

Quote:
It is our first time with chicks and I'm sure we are just going to have to find a way to deal with the allergies because the birds are going NOWHERE! I have 3 children that would probably die from heartache (me too)!

 

[sunshine23]

Quote:
It is our first time with chicks and I'm sure we are just going to have to find a way to deal with the allergies because the birds are going NOWHERE! I have 3 children that would probably die from heartache (me too)!

same here...lol

 

[columbiacritter]

Probably the shavings also growing chicks put out a HUGE amount of dander as they grow out of their fuzz. If it's not the shavings then he will probably not be allergic to fully feathered birds.