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c/backyard-chicken-keepersleo_campbellleo_campbell11d agoProlific Poster

I just found out my coop cleaning routine was making my hens sick

For the past year, I've been deep cleaning my coop with a bleach spray every single Sunday. I thought I was being super careful, keeping things germ free. But my three Rhode Island Reds kept getting these weird sneezing fits, especially right after cleaning. Last week, my neighbor, who's kept chickens for 20 years, saw me suited up with my spray bottle and just shook her head. She said, 'Leo, you're gassing your birds. That strong bleach smell is awful for their lungs.' I felt so dumb. I switched to a vinegar and water mix this weekend, and the sneezing stopped almost right away. Has anyone else had a problem with cleaning products they thought were safe?
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2 Comments
sarahsullivan
Yeah that's a really common mistake. Read an article about how chicken lungs are super sensitive to fumes. Bleach and ammonia are the worst for them. Vinegar is the way to go, it kills mold and smells without the harsh chemicals. Glad you figured it out before it got worse.
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finley939
finley93911d ago
My cousin's whole flock got sick from bleach fumes.
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