cedar wood coop safe??

[chickachicka]

I am trying to decide on a coop. I have a playhouse in mind that looks like it would be a great coop. However, it is made from cedar wood. Is that safe for chickens? I read that cedar chips were no good for them but how about a coop? I plan on painting the entire thing. Please advise!

Thanks!!

 

[Chicken03]

Im not sure about large pieces of cedar. I know the chips are bad though.

 

[elusiveracer]

You should be fine if they don't eat the coop.

 

[Judy]

Fine if you are going to paint it. Don't know why you would paint the outside, though.

 

[fargosmom]

You don't even need to paint it. Cedar lumber has plenty of time, being stored outside during the construction process, for the majority of the aromatics to evaporate. Unless your ventilation is poor it should pose no threat - we built ours out of cedar fencing and it's been great. The cedar shavings are dangerous because they're "fresh" and the aromatics are very strong.

 

[chickachicka]

Thanks so much. I wanted to make sure my girls will be safe!!

 

[CityChook]

I'd go for it. Cedar is great. Painting the inside will make it easier to clean. But the outside wouldn't need to be painted - cedar is so pretty. Nice job upcycling!

 

[cmjust0]

I turned a crappy concrete-block-and-peeling-paint mudroom/porch room type thing on our house into a decent little sunroom using western red cedar fence boards on the interior walls.. It smelled very cedar-y for while, but it faded pretty quickly..

Aged cedar will be fine for the chickies.