Black mold

[Ponte]

I am in south Florida, heat is an issue so I have my open coop covered by a mango tree on one side and by 20 foot high bananas plants on the other side.
It’s worked great for a year but now black Mold is appearing in one of the nesting boxes.
Should I,
A) do nothing.
B) clean it with bleach every few months.
C) build new nesting boxes out of Plywood.
D) build new nesting boxes out of polyethylene.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I know your weather ... Think it gets hotter & the humidity is worst there than here
I went with an "open air" Chicken House, having shower liners on EMT rods to close up when it rains & a dog house (plastic) as a nest box. It's got ti leaf plants on one side, coconut tree on the other & the back is the neighbors wall/fence, the front is open & catches the morning sun & breeze when there's any. Have been using this set up since 2016 and no issues except water wicking when we get days of rain but horse bedding pellets takes care of that issue.

Depending on which way the sun rises & your wind direction, you may need more "sun" to keep the area "drier" than moist. Banana trees are very moist, I've had them. Being under the mango tree sounds like the coops not getting enough sun to "dry" out. Protects from the sun but with all those leaves, it retains moisture (humidity).

So cleaning maybe the answer, plywood would form mold also, wood absorbs moisture. You could try some 5 gallon buckets it's side, build up the front 6" to hold in the bedding. You'll have to get the hens used to laying in it, be aware they do not like change so may stop laying for a bit. Just ideas ....

 

[Ponte]

My open coop is similar to yours with the exception of one wooden wall. Most of our storms come from the east or west so I made the solid wall to protect them when they roost. We have foxes, raccoons, possums, etc in our area so I used hardware cloth not chicken wire.
The mold is only in the nesting boxes so I may trim the plants by the nesting boxes to let In more direct sunlight.

 

[coach723]

Whether you clean them or rebuild them, I think sealing them with paint will help immensely.
My boxes are painted, inside and out, and I painted as they were built so all surfaces were sealed at that time, even the ends that are covered. I did it because of moisture, and to help prevent it being an attractive home for lice/mites. And mine are outdoor grade plywood also. No mold problems. I can spray with vinegar and wipe down when I clean, and I repaint as needed, which is not that often. I just used a low voc exterior latex paint. The floors of mine have a layer of linoleum, but just painting them would work just as well. If you decide to paint these ones I would thoroughly clean them and use something to for sure kill the mold first, since some molds will grow under the paint if they are already there. There is a product called Concrobium Mold Control, I got it at Lowe's. It's a spray and works pretty well, though I have not used it on unpainted wood. It uses Sodium Carbonate, and contains no bleach or ammonia or VOC's.

 

[Ponte]

Mold gets into the wood fibers so think it’s best if I take out the old boxes and make new ones.
How long Should I wait after painting the nesting box Before allowing them to use it ?

 

[coach723]

As soon as the paint is dry. I repaint my roosts every year and I paint in the morning and put the roosts back in the evening. If you are building new boxes then I'd put a couple of coats on, let them dry the recommended time between coats, and then switch them out once they are complete. Since they are open, and fumes should be negligible once the paint is dry.

 

[Ponte]

Thanks