Chickens eating concrete dust.

[janicew1290]

Hello,

I am planning to sand a concrete patio, and wonder if hosing the dust into the dirt will be problematic for my birds who like to nibble along its edges. I do know that its not safe for them to inhale airborne dust particles, but am trying to figure out whether I will create a health hazard in doing this. Thank you for anything you can tell me about this!

 

[crity]

Very good question. Can you keep them contained while doing the work? Chickens are strange mine actually ate an entire styrofoam box. I couldn't believe it. It was in a trash pile of stuff we were dragging out of my mothers house and the chickens and peacocks ate the whole thing in a matter of hours. It's been a year and they are still healthy. Sanding concrete is not really good for anyone. I am actually buying some portable electric chicken fencing to keep mine from going into the dogs yard. And keeping it handy for when we need to do stuff that we don't want our chickens to get near. Chickens are smart one touch and they wont go near the stuff. Can you put a barrier with tarps around the deck? Do you have a cover over it that you could attach some cheap tarps? It might not be that hard to even put up some temporary posts and hang the tarps. Hope you have a good mask.

 

[aart]

Hello,

I am planning to sand a concrete patio, and wonder if hosing the dust into the dirt will be problematic for my birds who like to nibble along its edges. I do know that its not safe for them to inhale airborne dust particles, but am trying to figure out whether I will create a health hazard in doing this. Thank you for anything you can tell me about this!

I would keep them away from the area while you work. If the concrete is old and thus fully cured it should pose no problem if they ingest some of the ground off material. The more you spread out the dust with the hose the better.
How and why are you 'sanding' the concrete?

 

[janicew1290]

I plan to keep the birds as far away as possible from the slab when I am working, but you have both given me a great idea: I will borrow my brother's shop-vac and vacuum up the dust as best I can.

When the concrete is properly prepped, I am stenciling artwork onto it. Below is a lik to what I am hoping to approximante; hoping, being the operative word.

http://paintandpattern.com/mixing-layering-stencil-patterns/

 

[janicew1290]

I would keep them away from the area while you work. If the concrete is old and thus fully cured it should pose no problem if they ingest some of the ground off material. The more you spread out the dust with the hose the better.
How and why are you 'sanding' the concrete?

Thank you so much! I jut posted a more thorough reply.

 

[TexasLisa]

WOW, I like!! Please keep us posted.

 

[aart]

When the concrete is properly prepped.....

How are you 'sanding' the concrete?