Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

@lizzyGSR I'm glad your hen is going to be OK. I just returned from a 16 day trip to Ireland & lost two hens & a rabbit while I was gone. I never can go on vacation without losing birds. My rabbit had wry neck so it wasn't a total surprise but sad in any case. Her buddy misses her now.

 

[Stardustrose]

Hello again. We got our chicken coop this week, its actually nicer than what I have seen at Farm stores, its made of cedar and better quality than the advantage ones I have seen. Should I use polyurethane to seal the wood? Is it safe?

 

[chicken danz]

If I were you I'd use Thompsons water seal. Poly wont hold up to the weather. Those coops at the farm stores are pretty worthless and so light weight they'll blow over in the wind. Glad you got a different one. As long as the water seal is done outside and the chicken isn't confined in the coop part it should be okay. Of course you could wait 24 hours for it to cure if you have a place to keep your bird.
Glad you're back Trish. My daughter is in Spain right now. I had no idea there was so much there to see.
I know what you mean about loosing animals when you are gone. Every time I've been in the hospital I've lost some. Other people just don't see the things we do before its too late.

 

[Trish44]

I agree about the coops you see in the farm stores, they're made so cheaply they just don't last.

Danz we went to Spain a few years ago & really liked Barcelona, it's really nice. Ireland is really gorgeous & green but then it rains pretty much every day there. The scenery is just breathtaking there. We started out in Dublin where we flew into & after two days there we rented a car & drove all the way around the island & came back to Dublin to fly home. We stayed two to three days in each place & every one had something different to offer. I haven't gotten my photos downloaded off my camera yet, I'm still suffering from jet lag & remnants of the cold I got there.

 

[Stardustrose]

We don’t have our chicken yet. Should I seal inside the coop with the Thompson to avoid any chance of mold or mildew? Thank you so much for all the great advice. I’ve been doing research on my own, but certain things I just can’t find like what to seal a coop with.

 

[chicken danz]

You don't necessarily need to seal the inside of the coop, other than the fact it is cedar. Chickens are sensitive to cedar. If I were you I'd paint the inside with Kilz or with some exterior rated paint that doesn't need a primer, like a barn paint. Kilz exterior would be my first choice even though it's a bit pricy. Plus paint will help keep it from drawing moisture and molding. Its great that you are taking such care because most people don't even stop to think of these things until there are problems. Congratulations on being a great chicken Mom.
As far as the water seal goes you can use other brands besides
Thompson's but I've found they are close to the same price as off brands and a lot more durable.
I did see an add for a Pheonix hen and rooster. But I imagine you probably only would want the hen. I believe they were silver Pheonix and yours is probably a gold pheonix. Same breed just a different color. But they weren't real close to Emporia either.
@Trish44 my daughter flew into Portugal and has been in a different area almost every day. The most amazing thing she has posted was pictures of the Chapel of Bones. Did you see that when you were there?

 

[Stardustrose]

I did some research on the cedar coop and from what I've read its the shavings that's not good for chickens. https://urbancoopcompany.com/build-chicken-coops-cedar/ , but painting still might be a good idea. I am interested in getting another one like her....maybe they would get along better and she would have company. I love animals....I have three dogs, a cat and a chinchilla which was another rescue from a family that wasn't taking good care of him, they got bored with him. I hope I will be a good chicken mom.....I never do anything half way when it comes to care...lol. I'm excited to get her home.

 

[Trish44]

Danz Portugal is the country next to Spain, I thought you said she went to Spain. We didn't go to Portugal.

@Stardustrose It would be a good idea to paint over the cedar inside anyway just to be safe. I'm sure you could find another hen to keep yours company if you wanted one. There are quite a few people right now reducing their flocks for winter.

 

[chicken danz]

Danz Portugal is the country next to Spain, I thought you said she went to Spain. We didn't go to Portugal.

@Stardustrose It would be a good idea to paint over the cedar inside anyway just to be safe. I'm sure you could find another hen to keep yours company if you wanted one. There are quite a few people right now reducing their flocks for winter.

She did go to Portugal and is traveling through Spain as well. She's been there going on three weeks now.
@Stardustrose its the toxins in the oils that is harmful to the respiratory tract. That is why shavings are often quoted as toxic because there is more exposed oil. Cedar is safe if it is aged and not new wood. However most lumber you buy is new wood and not aged, so it is potentially dangerous to their respiratory systems. Just to be on the safe side I would paint the inside of a coop regardless of what it was made of. All of my wood coops are painted inside and like I said it seals off the potential of mold. Wood molds really easily if it gets wet. And chicken coops get wet especially in winter if the air flow is restricted some.

 

[Stardustrose]

Well we sealed the outside of the chicken coop with Thompson and we built a base/frame for the coop to sit on. We found out that the coop looks like cedar, but its stain and the coop is made of fir, which I hope is a good thing. We also fenced in a large area for her to run around in and we are trying to figure out how we're going to frame this area so we can close it in with chicken wire. Its been a fun project and I can't wait to get her. I have been watching Youtube video's and reading different articles. Now my question is feed. Some people I read feed laying pellets, some feed whole corn during the winter, I read they should be eating grit & scratch? What about health supplements? I want to avoid any issues like sour crop. Should we insulate the coop? I think we should....my husband says its not necessary, that a heat lamp will be fine. Sorry for all the questions....I just want to make sure I take good care of her and not make a mistake that could cause her health issues or worse. Thanks in advance and thank you Chicken danz for always answering my posts!!