ChirpyBrooke
In the Brooder
- May 24, 2023
- 14
- 11
- 26
Hello All
First year and first winter in wet old Washington state with my 15 girls. I have been using the deep little method ever since they moved into their coop 6 months ago. On average I tidy their 6x10 coop once a week. Their run is 25'x45', fenced and bird net covered.
I started out with aspen shavings accompanied with clay and DE. Even after weekly turning the ammonia smell was getting too much and I could not seem get it under control. I figured that if I could not stand it then how could I allow my girls to put up with it? I pulled the shavings out of there right before fall and replaced with hemp bedding as I read it was more absorbent and would help with my issues. We are now at the end of December and while there is no ammonia smell, I have a new issue.
About 2 weeks ago I noticed I was having difficulty breathing. I was getting winded doing my regular activities and taking a single deep breath caused a sharp pain in my chest. With home remedies I am slowly getting over the illness but I have a doctors appointment next week after the new year holiday just to be on the safe side. It only occurred to me that it might be a respiratory illness a few days ago. You see, I do not use a mask when I work in my coop (BAD!) and I regularly hold and kiss my girls when I am out there several times a day. Ever since I came to the conclusion that my illness could be chicken poop related, I have not been holding them and not gotten in the coop for the last week to turn the hemp bedding (mainly because I was too weak to do it).
I was feeling better today so decided I needed to tackle it but now notice that the chicken poop is growing fuzz!
I cant have anyone dealing with that, feathered or not so I am considering taking it all out again and replacing with washed, medium to course grain sand and just treating it like kitty litter. From what I have read, my girls are just producing too much poop and the hemp bedding is not able to dry it fast enough.
I know we live in a wet state but as you can see from my coop below it is protected from the elements so I do not think we will have an issue with wet sand but am open to comments and suggestions on how to keep myself and ladies heathy and happy. Thank you!
First year and first winter in wet old Washington state with my 15 girls. I have been using the deep little method ever since they moved into their coop 6 months ago. On average I tidy their 6x10 coop once a week. Their run is 25'x45', fenced and bird net covered.
I started out with aspen shavings accompanied with clay and DE. Even after weekly turning the ammonia smell was getting too much and I could not seem get it under control. I figured that if I could not stand it then how could I allow my girls to put up with it? I pulled the shavings out of there right before fall and replaced with hemp bedding as I read it was more absorbent and would help with my issues. We are now at the end of December and while there is no ammonia smell, I have a new issue.
About 2 weeks ago I noticed I was having difficulty breathing. I was getting winded doing my regular activities and taking a single deep breath caused a sharp pain in my chest. With home remedies I am slowly getting over the illness but I have a doctors appointment next week after the new year holiday just to be on the safe side. It only occurred to me that it might be a respiratory illness a few days ago. You see, I do not use a mask when I work in my coop (BAD!) and I regularly hold and kiss my girls when I am out there several times a day. Ever since I came to the conclusion that my illness could be chicken poop related, I have not been holding them and not gotten in the coop for the last week to turn the hemp bedding (mainly because I was too weak to do it).
I was feeling better today so decided I needed to tackle it but now notice that the chicken poop is growing fuzz!
I cant have anyone dealing with that, feathered or not so I am considering taking it all out again and replacing with washed, medium to course grain sand and just treating it like kitty litter. From what I have read, my girls are just producing too much poop and the hemp bedding is not able to dry it fast enough.
I know we live in a wet state but as you can see from my coop below it is protected from the elements so I do not think we will have an issue with wet sand but am open to comments and suggestions on how to keep myself and ladies heathy and happy. Thank you!