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

[tranquiliti]

Seems like masking while cleaning should be our New Year’s resolution!

“Yeah, 2025! I’m on board!” … “Oh wait, this was from Feb 2024. Nm”

 

[BuckeyeAmy69]

I'm sensitive to dust, and breathing the fluff and stuff that chickens produce is really not good for the respiratory system. I use an M9 mask that seals against my face.

 

[FluffyMama]

I wear an n95 when I clean out the coops because I have asthma. I didn’t used to but the last time I cleaned it out without a mask I coughed for days. My asthma’s gotten worse with the years so I wear the mask anytime I’m working with pine shavings, straw, anything dusty.

 

[BunnayCheeks]

I wear a full respirator mask with goggles and gloves, but I have severe allergies and asthma so I'm a little extra

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm amazed how many people don't. I clean my poop trays daily. They contain a mixture of construction sand and Sweet PDZ. Even though I try to disturb it as little as possible, just scraping the poop off the top, it still generates clouds of fine dust. I'm a former smoker and I'm not inhaling that. I wear one of those black disposable Covid masks, a fresh one every day. And gloves, also. I didn't get this old by being careless and I don't want to die young, lol.

 

[WHB3]

Sometimes. When I don't it's because I've forgotten to bring a mask, and if I do any cleaning besides scooping poop, I pay dearly. Two days ago I did some prep work for painting, which required closing windows covered in cobwebs and dust. Disturbing the crud caused it to go airborne. Within a few hours I was coughing, felt like I was getting a sore throat, and blowing my nose every 10 seconds. I'm now determined to either use a mask every time I work in the nest room, or put the work off until I do have a mask. I know there are rats, so histoplasmosis from their droppings is a legit concern.

 

[Loving my girls]

I write this in shame
I have masks, special ones bought by my hubby after I coughed up hemp dusk eek.
I have an apron too.
If there was an emoji for the true embarrassment I feel here I would use it
I confess I don’t use either.
I used to but when summer came it seemed too hot and my glasses steamed up.
I promise I will try again