The Best Clothes for Working in a Chicken House

Commercial chicken houses can contain thousands of birds, while a smaller farm might contain just a dozen. But whatever the size of chicken house, it is important to dress correctly to protect yourself from dangers. These may include barbed fencing, machinery, rakes or dust. Plus, the clothing needs to be comfortable to avoid hurting your skin.

  1. Old Clothes

    • Wearing old clothes is the best option for working in a chicken house. The clothes are exposed to lots of chicken muck, smell and abrasion, so the clothes will spoil quite quickly. To protect your arms, wear a long-sleeved shirt or T-shirt, and make sure it is of a thicker material, rather than thin cotton, so it will not rip easily. You might bump into fencing or work with machinery, for example. Wear denim trousers, which are tough, so when you kneel, the knees will not tear. Denim will also protect you from scrapes.

    Dust Mask

    • A dust mask is a filter that is worn around your nose and mouth. It prevents you from breathing in dangerous fumes from any sprays or materials you might be using, such as diatomaceous earth. If you use wood shavings, if it is hay fever season, or you are susceptible to sneezing from dust particles, then wearing a dust mask will help you . When you clean the chicken house, wearing a dust mask is particularly important, as you will brush up older muck, and inhaling this could cause illness.

    Goggles

    • Goggles are an essential piece of clothing for cleaning a chicken house. Dried feces, small stones or the pointy end of a feather could flick up and enter the eye when you use a jet hose to clean the floor. It is also important to wear them when you change the bedding of the chicken house. The dust from the wood shavings could irritate your eyes, causing them to itch and potentially creating an infection.

    Suitable Shoes

    • There are many hazards in a chicken house, such as machinery, exposed fencing, moving chickens, dirty floors and equipment. Plus, you might be working long hours to maintain the house. Therefore, wearing the right shoe is important for comfort and practicality. If you are washing the chicken house, slip on a pair of gum boots to prevent getting your feet wet. For other activities, such as feeding or sweeping, wear a strong leather boot that can support your foot and keep it protected .