where is all the dist coming from??

[silkiechicken]

Well, I have one 4x4x6 Lowe's play house coop I used once when it was brand new (the babies now live in it all grown up), and just heated it with two 100W bulbs. Two 100W's so incase one went out in the night, the chicks wouldn't get chilled. The play house has a wood floor.

Then I also have two 2x4 foot hutches made from a single sheet of 3/4inch plywood that I put two 100W bulbs in for the same reason above. However, it sits directly on dirt. I prefer this method because then they get exposure to the stuff they will be living on for the rest of their lives. I have it against a 4x8 run that I open the door to at a few weeks old so they can have more space.

I have the lights on a dimmer to adjust temps and take heat away at 6-7 weeks or so. It has been warm enough in there to brood day olds even when there was 8 inches of freak april snow out. I do however keep the lights about 6 inches from the floor. You can see in the snow pic that the side the heat lamp is on, the snow is partially melted down lower than the rest.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Thanks SilkieChicken those are nice brooders!!

 

[Pennyhen]

Cammy I think you mean inhaler, a respirator is what they use when you cant breathe on your own and involves having a tube inserted in your throat.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
No, it's a respirator. It filters the air you breathe. Most of them have replaceable filters. You can check them out at www.jondon.com I'm not quite on life support yet

 

[LeezyBeezy]

Wow- this is good to know. I have 25 chickies coming from McMurray's, and I didn't even think about the dust. I had planned on keeping them inside, in a back room that has a lockable door (cats and kids), plenty of light and a heat source, and a bathroom (bath tub maybe??). Now, hmmmmmm, thinking about keeping them outside, because if all 25 make it, that's a lot of feathery dust! We do have respirators, if we need them, due to hubby's job and house renovation (found dead squirrels in the walls- ew), but I'd rather not! Heck, I might scare the little babies! LOL.

and PS- it's a ventilator that involves a tube... they always use the wrong word on TV. (and yes, I'm an ICU nurse).

 

[felidaet]

The dust is one of the reasons my brooder is in the garage. I was amazed with at the amount of dust last year. This year I am going to try using wood pellets instead of pine shavings in the brooder.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Did you realize that the title has a typo in it?

 

[chickerdoodle]

I saw a great set up where they attached a large filter (find one that gets really fine dust particles) to their big box fans and kept it on low to pull the dander into the filter. It seemed very helpful but since they had 2 rooms with adult chickens and chicks it sill didn't get it all but honestly it wasn't as bad as it would've been without the filters. I think with only the 5 chicks I will be getting should be really helpful (I hope).

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

Mine live in the basement until they go outside. I will never keep them upstairs any longer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,too much dust.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

For the 4 weeks I had my chicks inside my bedroom I never had a problem with dust at all...maybe it's just me? I slept in there just fine!