Can I use untreated natural wood to build a coop?

[chickentrunks]

Thanks for your answer! Interesting, and good to know

 

[Kris5902]

I have also built coops, dog houses, rabbit hutches etc out of untreated wood, then painted them. I prefer to set the structure up on blocks, even if it's a big one, because treated wood is treated with an arsenic solution. I don't want my animals to be exposed to that. If the treated wood is a bit seasoned you can cover one end with pitch and paint the rest, then bury it and use it for whatever animal related structure you want (my dad's method).

Arsenic hasn’t been used in treating lumber since 2003 in the USA and Canada... I also use mostly untreated wood (whatever I’ve got) and have used aged cedar fairly extensively without any major issues. I use home milled cedar and fir mostly. I had raised beds of untreated fir at my last house here in the Pacific Nortwest (filled with damp soil, microbes, fungi, and bugs) they were full measure 2x14’s... 7 years later they were still almost completely intact...

 

[woodmort]

I thought I read on here that cedar is poisonous to chickens? Am I mistaken?

That's red cedar shavings, and yes they are if consumed, but construction cedar isn't something they're going to eat.

 

[Acre4Me]

Aresenic no longer used generally, as noted nay others. Here is a good article on treated lumber options at the time when the Arsenic containing preservative was no longer widely used (but it still is used).
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2004/01/01/the-new-pressure-treated-wood

As others noted, just keep that untreated wood away from constant ground contact or constant exposure to wet.

Good Luck!

 

[chickentrunks]

Arsenic hasn’t been used in treating lumber since 2003 in the USA and Canada...

Boy howdy am I out of touch
Learn something new every day haha.

I will note that arsenic isn't used anymore! Since the treated stuff still looks green it never crossed my mind that they would have stopped using it.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Aresenic no longer used generally, as noted nay others. Here is a good article on treated lumber options at the time when the Arsenic containing preservative was no longer widely used (but it still is used).
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2004/01/01/the-new-pressure-treated-wood

As others noted, just keep that untreated wood away from constant ground contact or constant exposure to wet.

Good Luck!

Thanks so much. I may have to use treated wood for the part of the coop that touches the ground. For the rest of it I plan to use untreated wood.

I am not sure what chemicals in the treating process caused me to break out so deathly bad. I know that arsenic was at one time used to treat wood but I am sure that they are others. I do have a known allergy to formaldehyde, I have to be careful about what household and hygiene products I use because of it. Not sure if that is in treated wood or not.

 

[Kris5902]

Thanks so much. I may have to use treated wood for the part of the coop that touches the ground. For the rest of it I plan to use untreated wood.

I am not sure what chemicals in the treating process caused me to break out so deathly bad. I know that arsenic was at one time used to treat wood but I am sure that they are others. I do have a known allergy to formaldehyde, I have to be careful about what household and hygiene products I use because of it. Not sure if that is in treated wood or not.

Whatever it is you probably want to avoid it as much as possible! I can’t remember what is used now, but regardless of what it is, if you have an adverse reaction to it, avoid it. If it’s mostly an issue during construction see if you can get a non reactive friend to handle the ground contact points for you? Or you can look into the other good options given. One thing I’ve heard of, but never tried and don’t necessarily recommend, is soaking the post bottoms in used motor oil... I’m pretty sure it’s not environment or chicken friendly though!

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Whatever it is you probably want to avoid it as much as possible! I can’t remember what is used now, but regardless of what it is, if you have an adverse reaction to it, avoid it. If it’s mostly an issue during construction see if you can get a non reactive friend to handle the ground contact points for you? Or you can look into the other good options given. One thing I’ve heard of, but never tried and don’t necessarily recommend, is soaking the post bottoms in used motor oil... I’m pretty sure it’s not environment or chicken friendly though!

Yes!! I will most definitely get someone to help with the treated wood. As for the rest, I am going to use the non treated wood. I am pleased to hear that others use the natural wood and get great results. Gives me a lot of hope for this project.