Official BYC Poll: Do You Wear a Mask or Respirator When Cleaning Your Coop?

[Liz Birdlover]

I really wish my hubby would mask up, even with just a bandana or gator when he's cleaning the coops. We use PDZ, and that crap can really damage lungs. He coughs a lot while cleaning. I use a medical mask when I clean my little coop in the front yard and when I clean my house chicken's enclosures. The dust and down feathers are massive. Plus, you have to think, that dust flying around is like aerosolized poo. I do NOT want that in my lungs.
Photo of Coco just because.
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Coco is adorable

 

[Ritank]

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We all know how much dust those birds can create, so I'm just wondering who wears some kind of respiratory protection when they are in and around the coop - and when!

Have you had any issues from not wearing a mask?

Please vote and leave a comment below!

I wear mask, gloves , and protective glasses every time I clean the coop.

 

[Roosterinthecity]

Probably should. Swallows some stray particles three days ago. Still feel it in my through. But I’ll be fine. Drink lots o whiskey…lol

 

[Beckys Birds]

Coco is adorable

Thanks She knows it, too.

 

[CrazyChickLady64]

I do when cleaning the coop or scraping poop, my husband does not I just tell him don't breathe through your mouth. Our nose has a filter but if you are breathing through your mouth it could cause real problems later on.

 

[Folly's place]

Your nose doesn't filter enough! Wear that N95 face mask.
Mary

 

[MamaWolf7]

I live 100mi from Alaska, so I can't clean the coop in the winter because everything is a big frozen block of straw/poop. In the summer I prefer to use wood chips. I go full on safety when cleaning the coop...Hazmat suit, safety glasses, shower cap and respirator with cartridges that filter ammonia, VOCs, n100 particulates and more. You can't be too safe!

 

[Folly's place]

Good for you! I'm not that careful, but should be.
True confessions: now that I'm 'even more mature', our son cleans the coop, maybe three times each year. Coming up in March...
An aside: now that we have both poison ivy, and worse yet, poison hemlock, I wear that hasmat suit, gloves, glasses, when working on those devil plants, everywhere. Ugh!
Mary

 

[AquaDuck]

I wear a rubber half-mask with gas filter every time I'm in the coop.
I got some mystery sensitivity to gasses (and dust I suppose) several years ago, where I'll get an instant headache if I breathe in stuff like ammonia. It's also affecting my eyes, but not as bad as the breathing, so I only wear goggles when I clean.

I think it's one of those things where my body developed a sensitivity due to overexposure. Like it just had enough one day. I've worked with animals and on farms all my life, and never wore anything protective before I started getting sick, breathing in all kinds of stuff. (Not trying to scare anyone! It's not normal! I got other chronic health issues, probably making me extra susceptible.)

It's a pain and I wish I didn't have to, but I love love LOVE having ducks and chickens, and if wearing a gas mask is what I need to do, then that's what I'll do.

 

[MegTheHenEggQueen]

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We all know how much dust those birds can create, so I'm just wondering who wears some kind of respiratory protection when they are in and around the coop - and when!

Have you had any issues from not wearing a mask?

Please vote and leave a comment below!

I’m having major respiratory issues from DEarth getting in my lungs nose ears mouth etc. I need to wear protection but sometimes my ADHD just takes me on unexpected and not planned journeys and I start doing things then all of a sudden squirrel and before I even think of a mask I’m playing in DE and Lime! I also have found I have a straw allergy.