Coop Materials to Stay Away From?

[lindseyawest]

I'm hoping to use a lot of upcycling/repurposing type of things for building my coop in part for reducing waste and in part to see if I can build the coop for a little less money. I'm wondering if there are types of materials/woods/etc. that would be bad for the chickens? Also, paints/stains to stay away from for the health/well-being of the chickens?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I'm hoping to use a lot of upcycling/repurposing type of things for building my coop in part for reducing waste and in part to see if I can build the coop for a little less money. I'm wondering if there are types of materials/woods/etc. that would be bad for the chickens? Also, paints/stains to stay away from for the health/well-being of the chickens?

Since you will be using 2nt, 3rd, or even 4th generation used materials I'm thinking that its impossible to know where everything that you're using has been before or for what it was previously used.

 

[lindseyawest]

Is there something I can do or use to treat the wood/materials would maybe be a better question then?

 

[Folly's place]

Stay away from material previously used near someone else's chickens, to avoid possible diseases. Remember that raccoons and dogs can dig or chew through anything flimsy. Spend money on hardware cloth, not chicken wire, and good fasteners for it. And build BIG! Mary

 

[lindseyawest]

Thanks Mary.

What about rabbit hutches? My neighbor is using one for her two chickens and suggested I do that to get started until I can complete my coop build.