@cholash I’m not currently experiencing any problems but am wondering about potential issues when living close to chickens.
I’ve had lifelong asthma and Bronchiectasis for 10 years, seems my family has a history of respiratory issues.
We haven’t moved yet but are planning a move to be closer to my daughter who is also planning to buy a hobby farm so she can have chickens.
I’m just concerned about potential issues with birds, seed, bedding etc
Is it enough to just mask up when around them or like another commenter mentioned, is there also danger is wind blown dust and mold etc?

@cholash @paulaok @buddy43
Close, concentrated contact with infectious material is the risk. That is why concentrated vapor over an indoor pool is risky, but an outdoor pool is safe. This was stressed to me by the ID doc when I asked about what to avoid.

My infection was M Avium and M Intracellulare, both typically associated with birds (not just chickens). He told me not to think about keeping birds in my home (which we had done in the past) or raising my own chickens, but not to worry about the neighbors' birds. By the time "anything" reached my yard it would be so diluted by the air that risk would be very small. I also asked about feeding wild birds - there he said "mask-up & clean-up" - I was already doing the cleaning part, but the masking never occurred to me. He also told me not to dig in soil inhabited for years by feral chickens in my yard (they have been gone for 7 years now, but I am still cautious.)

So what is my takeaway? I feed the birds, keep their feeders & waterers scrupulously clean. I have been lazy about masking, but will go back to that too. I don't dig, rake, etc near where they feed. I wash thoroughly after working on their stuff. If I had to feed chickens, I would follow the same procedure.

I highly doubt second-hand, airborne exposure to the neighbor's chickens is dangerous, but you could consult with your local health department if you are concerned.