Johanna,
I use a wet/dry vac to clean the coop--but I warn you, it will plug up with feathers! I vacuum the walls, nest boxes, and wire, then rake the floor. Have you tried using a mask (not the Halloween kind!) while doing this chore? I use a surgical-type mask that fits over my nose and mouth while mowing, and it helps a lot.

marlingardner--

OK, I'm going to try it. We're just getting past moult and there are a ton of feathers, I'll watch for the clogging.

I always wear a mask when I'm cleaning in there. The first time I had a strong allergic reaction, all the lymph nodes on my head swelled up. My city doctor took a while but actually found reference to an allergy called "farmer lung"! Now I do everything I can to reduce my exposure (including avoiding cleaning the coop, but it has to happen eventually!).

--Johanna

I use a mask and positive air pressure to force the dust in one direction while cleaning. I bought some old furnace squirrel cage fans from a neighbor that has a heating business (about $20. each). Cut a hole in door side of building that was about 10"x12" (the opening of the fan exhaust) and mounted the fan on the outside of building. Built a wooden box with the bottom open to protect it from weather-putting 1/4" hardware cloth over the bottom opening to keep birds from getting in there and being sucked into the fan. Then on the opposite side of coop cut an opening about 2'x2' to let the dust out again covering this opening with 1/4" hardware cloth. Both openings have a plywood hinged door (covering) that is latched closed when not in use.

This made it possible to clean on a regular schedule without much of a reaction. Try to stay with the air flow coming from your backside so that dust is blowing away from you. Since using this I've not had breathing and rash problems.

I don't know if you have deer mice in your area but if you do be very careful about inhaling any dust. Deer mice carry Hanta virus which has been know to be deadly to humans.A Sars mask would effectivly screen out this virus.