What do you wear??

[Redbirdacres]

OK this seems like a silly question but back story (may be long? Sorry!):

I'm disabled. I worked healthcare and had to leave due to a back injury 5 years ago. Due to multiple procedures and two surgeries, I am now left with a progressive incurable back condition. During this time, I started making some money from home. My husband and I purchased our dream home on 20 acres last year despite my limitations because screw limitations! I'm only 39, turning 40 this year, so we are living our dream no matter what! Because of all of the above, I don't leave home a lot. You will generally find me in leggings, joggers, or loungers with a tee and a hoodie LOL!

So I've barely worn "real" clothes in 5 years. My real clothes are still soft legging material. So I don't really wear jeans. Being that this is our first livestock experience I'm lost as to what to wear to take care of the chicks. This may sound silly but I feel odd being out in the garage with them, feeding, watering, and cleaning, and coming inside with the same clothes and shoes. I always wash my hands immediately (healthcare habit too) but I sometimes feel like my clothes are probably no longer suitable to wear inside.

So what does everyone wear? Do you changes shoes and/or clothes after handling or cleaning chicks/housing or even their feeders/waterers? As I'm quickly learning chicken poop goes everywhere haha!

Also, suggestions for shoes? I was looking at the Western Chief boots and booties from TS. Any reviews?

 

[My2butterflies]

I wear scrubs and mud boots. Nothing fancy.

 

[bill3607]

I have my chicken boots that set by the back door in the laundry room. That is as far as they go in the house and only used for going in the coop or run. I also keep a long sleeve shirt hanging there that I use sometimes if I know I will be handling them. And, of course always wash hands and arms.

 

[All4Eggz]

Mud boots and some "farm" clothing.
Nothing special.

 

[Isadora]

The only reason I would change my clothes after doing chores would be if I got particularly dirty. I don't handle my birds on a daily basis and I don't get crap on me except on my boots which I don't wear through the house.
I wash my hands when I come inside and that's it.
Sorry... that's not very helpful for you.

 

[gtaus]

I'm disabled. I worked healthcare and had to leave due to a back injury 5 years ago. Due to multiple procedures and two surgeries, I am now left with a progressive incurable back condition.

As an RN, I have had to care for a number of patients with back injuries and life long disabilities. I am very fortunate that I have not had any back problems, and I go out of my way to protect my back both on the job and at home. I hope you are getting proper treatment for your back condition. I know it can be difficult with back injuries, pain, and pain management.

I'm only 39, turning 40 this year, so we are living our dream no matter what!

Back injuries at any age are terrible. I have known a few nurses who damaged their backs on the job and, like you, at a young age. I am glad to hear that you maintain a positive attitude towards life and hope you can enjoy your dream for many years to come.

This may sound silly but I feel odd being out in the garage with them, feeding, watering, and cleaning, and coming inside with the same clothes and shoes. I always wash my hands immediately (healthcare habit too) but I sometimes feel like my clothes are probably no longer suitable to wear inside.

Before I suggest what to wear, might I first suggest you (re)think your chicken coop and run setup. I'm 61 years old now, and when I built my coop and run, I designed it so that I never have to go inside the coop or the run to feed, water, and gather all my eggs. I can do everything from outside in my regular street clothes and never get them soiled. I don't need any special clothes or shoes because they never come into contact with chicken stuff. Of course, I do wash my hands after refilling the feeder, waterer, and collecting eggs every day.

So what does everyone wear? Do you changes shoes and/or clothes after handling or cleaning chicks/housing or even their feeders/waterers? As I'm quickly learning chicken poop goes everywhere haha!

A couple times a year I do clean out my chicken coop and put down fresh deep litter. On those days, I will usually wear some old clothes and either an old pair of tennis shoes or my mud boots. Cleaning out the coop can be a dusty process, so I also wear a face mask. When I get back into the house, I strip off the clothes and throw them in the dirty laundry by the washing machine - so they don't really get into the house. My shoes or boots can be taken off either at the door or in the garage. No big deal. Because I can get pretty dusty after the spring cleaning, I jump into the shower to wash out my hair (what's left at my age) and wash down good before putting on clean clothes. Dear Wife does not want chicken dander on our furniture, but neither do I. Like I said, I only clean out the deep litter maybe twice a year.

Also, suggestions for shoes?

Old tennis shoes or mud boots work for me. Don't know your setup, but make sure you have shoes or boots that don't slip where you need to work. Protect that back as best you can. After my uncle slipped on some ice and broke his ankle, he bought some slip on rubber booties with small spikes that fit over his shoes. Easy to put on and take off, but ensures no slipping on the ice. Something like that might work for you on wet slippery grass and the such. NO FALLS!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Uhm...I'm an old country gal....I've been known to go out in my pj's to the chicken coop.

Typically I'm in sweats. I don't immediately change my clothing unless I just cleaned the coops. (From which I shower too).

I keep a "chicken coat" by the back door that I only use with the chickens. It has really big square pockets that are excellent for gathering eggs.

I then keep a pair of Western Chief boots by the back door. I only use it for chicken use. They are oversized so I can just step in and out of them barefoot...because...uhm I'm usually still in my pjs or sweats stepping into my boots, putting on my chicken coat, letting the birds out of their run later in the morning (since we have lots of early am hawk runs).

I tutor from home afterschool so I don't shower and get into street clothes until after noon.

Wear whatever is comfortable. Wash your hands after each time. I prefer chicken boots and coat for bird security that way I'm not possibly tracking in some wild virus from my street clothing.

Just what I do.

LofMc

 

[gtaus]

Uhm...I'm an old country gal....I've been known to go out in my pj's to the chicken coop.

Oh, you country girls.... A few years ago, I watched a Ruth Stout YouTube video on her method of no till planting potatoes. She was talking about her method of just throwing potatoes out on top of hay and letting them grow on their own. She said that she remembered the neighbors stopping along the road and watching her tend her garden when she was younger, however, at that age, she did all her gardening in the nude!

 

[bill3607]

Oh, you country girls.... A few years ago, I watched a Ruth Stout YouTube video on her method of no till planting potatoes. She was talking about her method of just throwing potatoes out on top of hay and letting them grow on their own. She said that she remembered the neighbors stopping along the road and watching her tend her garden when she was younger, however, at that age, she did all her gardening in the nude!

I would have probably watched, too! I imagine there was a couple or 3 wrecks there, also.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I put on muck boots and my farm coat. But I'll throw that on over pretty much whatever I'm wearing at the time. Today, I threw it on over my work dress slacks that I tuck into the boots. I've worn dresses, shorts, pajamas... When I gotta start "chickening," I don't always have time to change.