Bad idea to build run with untreated lumber?

[TheGeekySheep]

Hello, all. I'm picking up my first batch of chicks this weekend (so excited)!

I will be building their coop in one corner of a large metal pole barn while they're in the brooder. There will be a pop door to a covered run outside attached to the barn. For the run I planned to do pressure treated 2x4 construction, solid exterior stain, with hardware cloth and a slanted galvanized metal roof coming off the barn wall.

I was reading up on exterior stain when I ran across several sources saying that pressure treated wood shouldn't be stained until it dries out, which could take up to 6 months in a humid climate like mine (Georgia). I wanted to stain the run before I put on the hardware cloth and roof to get good stain on all sides. But I certainly don't want to wait 6 months to give the chicks a run. So would it be a terrible idea to use untreated wood and a solid exterior stain? Does the fact that the wood will be vertical with a roof help at all or am I just asking for trouble later on?

Any advice or experiences you can give would be appreciated.

 

[Caudle Farms]

I built my my chicken tractor which is 8x10 out of local pine with 1/4 in plywood. And went to the local hardware store and bought a gallon of the barn and fence paint which is really thick like molasses and it seems to be holding up just fine. I will continue to paint it yearly just to keep a thick coating.

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Hope this helps

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Pressure treated wood can indeed be stained with a toner. These are the semi transparent exterior wood toned stains used on decks and fences. The 6 months waiting time on pressure treated is for paints and solid body stains not toner stain.

 

[seminolewind]

I would use treated lumber for the ground contact wood, and stain or paint the rest.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

Pressure treated wood can indeed be stained with a toner. These are the semi transparent exterior wood toned stains used on decks and fences. The 6 months waiting time on pressure treated is for paints and solid body stains not toner stain.

Does toner provide UV protection or waterproofing like a stain? Also can toner stain be lighter than the wood (light beige)?

EDIT: Oops, I think the answer was already in your reply, semi-transparent. I'm looking for a solid color. Hmmm.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

I would use treated lumber for the ground contact wood, and stain or paint the rest.

That could work. I could leave the bottom unstained for a while and it wouldn't look too unfinished.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The products used in today's treating are fairly eco friendly. There is also a difference between treated lumber and Ground Contact treated lumber. Much of the common treated lumber will be stamped, "Not for ground contact".

 

[4 the Birds]

Treated wood can sometimes can be fairly wet before it dries out. I would for sure use only pressure treated wood for your run whether you stain or paint now or later. If you don't stain or paint your wood then it will age to a grey color which I prefer.