Cedar. Do we have a problem?

[valentinebaby]

Dark Wolf - Next time I'm @ HD, I'll pull a label from some of the new pine studs they have and do some research. When I was searching through the new studs at the store, they all felt very "wet" all over, not sticky. After a week outside, they felt dry. I didn't save the wood site that mentioned some wood producers surface coat new wood for some reason or the other...wish I had. I did see sites that mention reaction to colophony, the resin produced by pine trees. I can only say, WOW, to the allergic reaction it's created for me - never had allergies til this... If you ever hear of anything, let me know - I don't feel like spending the bucks by going to a dermatologist and finding out for sure what it is - already went to my regular doc who basically said STAY AWAY FROM IT! However, I'm a stubborn sort and thought 4 small cuts on a 2x2 to start my roost supports wouldn't hurt that much - now I'm banging my head against the wall...stupid, me!

 

[lisahaschickens]

DarkWolf -

The interior walls and floor of my coop are lined with plywood. I don't know what kind because I'm not so handy (though I'm trying to learn) and we had a guy come out and do the work for us.

You mentioned some chemicals like formaldehyde in plywood... is that going to be a problem for us? My birds have been in there for about 8 weeks now, on white/pine shavings, and as I mentioned, the run is made from cedar.

p.s. redwood is the best! I am originally from northern CA and we had a great many things made from redwood.

 

[flopshot]

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that sounds like a load of fresh treated lumber. i'm sitting in the office of a lumber yard right now and none of our dimensional spruce or yellow pine is "wet'. in fact, it's kiln dried.

 

[DarkWolf]

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Moreover, it sounds like a load of green lumber... Else it sat in the rain for a while... The only wood that has that gnarly wet feeling though is treated lumber. I got several 2x4's from Lowes that were practically dripping.

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Don't worry about it. It's just used in the glue and off gasses fairly quickly under open air like in a coop. The issues people see with it now is with these uber sealed houses they build there fresh air hardly has a chance to come in.

My house bleeds air, so no issue there..

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Yup yup... I grew up in eastern PA.. You simply can not FIND it there.. Kentucky is the same... Yet the west coast still sells it quite a bit. $$$ though.

 

[valentinebaby]

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One last question - the 1x4, 2x4, and 2x2, were yellow pine (#1 or #2, can't remember) and they weren't wet from rain, so I'm wondering, flopshot, do some lumber producers surface coat normal pine and don't say they do?. The above was definitely not what is sold as treated (which has that awful gray-green colour). Thanks!

 

[flopshot]

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One last question - the 1x4, 2x4, and 2x2, were yellow pine (#1 or #2, can't remember) and they weren't wet from rain, so I'm wondering, flopshot, do some lumber producers surface coat normal pine and don't say they do?. The above was definitely not what is sold as treated (which has that awful gray-green colour). Thanks!

not that i'm aware of. i would be suspect of any lumber that was wet, obviously treated, and not sold as so. i will however check with our lumber buyer tomorrow.

 

[valentinebaby]

not that i'm aware of. i would be suspect of any lumber that was wet, obviously treated, and not sold as so. i will however check with our lumber buyer tomorrow.

Thanks! I'd appreciate any info you may find - I just know from now on I'll need to have my hubbie pick out new wood and air dry for a week before using!​

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Wait - so now cedar is a good choice???

We went to the lumber yard yesterday and I talked DH into tongue-and-groove pine instead of cedar. Was that a mistake?

Could someone maybe offer up a list of best-to-worst choices for wood, paint, flooring and other materials?

I'm such a Newbie my husband had to show me what a 2 x 4 looks like, so that gives you an idea of how much help I need...

 

[flopshot]

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Thanks! I'd appreciate any info you may find - I just know from now on I'll need to have my hubbie pick out new wood and air dry for a week before using!

sorry it took so long, Embarq interweb was down this morning.
formaldehyde is used in many textiles to retain color and in particle board and some plywood products to enhance adhesive properties. one of the reasons mobile homes are an issue untill aired out. is will dissipate in short time. it does not have any usefull properties that would cause it to be used on kiln dried dimensional lumber such as 2X4's etc. even when it's in the composition boards and plywood it is not wet. the only lumber products you should consider in a wet stage would be treated and that would be a very fresh load. if it is wet, try to use it quickly before it dries out. once those bands are cut and the covering is removed those board start becomeing rocking chair bottoms.

 

[patandchickens]

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Cedar shavings are questionable (though not always a problem) as bedding.

Whereas cedar LUMBER is perfectly fine for BUILDING with, especially if you are talking about siding or shingles or fenceposts. (Exception: you don't want the coop smelling like a cedar closet. But that's not cheap to achieve even in *actual* cedar closets <g>)

Pat