Drywall in coop

[romahunter]

Hi! I'm new to chickens, mine are about 5 months old. I just scored a coop from a neighbor, who doesn't have chickens anymore. It's a nice coop, 8x10 ft2, with some bells and whistles, well ventilated, etc. He is handy and built it himself years ago. The walls are insulated and covered in drywall. He didn't paint the drywall, and after 20-something years of chicken use, there's some wear and tear, including paper peeling off and staining, and the seams between drywall boards have not been taped over either. I am wondering whether it wouldn't be a good idea to tape the seams and paint it. Aside from looking nice, will this last and add any benefits? Would the paint make it easier to clean?

Thanks

 

[member 373180]

Based on what my little terrors did to the ceiling in their coop, I'd be worried about the peeling paper. Once they have something like that to pick on, they'll have the whole thing torn down around them in no time. And you're right, it would likely be hard to keep clean, though my walls end up mostly only with dust and cobwebs, not poop.

Maybe if you sand off all the picky bits and then paint with a heavy bathroom paint that would keep it easy to clean and whole?

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC @romahunter!
I'd be more concerned about what might living behind the dry wall and within the insulation....and be tempted to tear it all off.

Or if you want to keep it, best to paint it.
Start with a couple coats of Kilz primer, then a good exterior latex.
You could either tape the seams or fill them with primer and paint.

Oh and adding your general geographical location to your profile can help garner better answers/suggestions.

 

[Birdinhand]

definitely get rid of anything that the chickens can get ahold of and eat. I had to re-do my ceiling in my roost. it took 3 years for them to discover they could peck chunks free, but once they did, they made short order of tearing and eating anything they could get loose :-() if they can get ahold of foam insulation, they will eat it like it's some kind of delicacy! if the insulation you have in those wall isn't solid core foam, then it's best gotten rid of because it harbors rodents/etc. the solid foam seems to do the trick.

 

[DIGGIN CHICKEN]

Drywall ??? Is the coop outside?? Id be a bit concerned with moisture and mildew etc ... can see that being healthy

 

[ScottandSam]

Ya id also recommend tearing drywall and insulation out. Dry will wick moister from the air and mold inside the wall.

Scott

 

[JackE]

I agree with the others, tear out the drywall, and insulation. Neither is needed in a coop. Insulation, drywall, in a coop, can be the source of far more problems, over any kind of benefit received.

 

[romahunter]

Based on what my little terrors did to the ceiling in their coop, I'd be worried about the peeling paper. Once they have something like that to pick on, they'll have the whole thing torn down around them in no time. And you're right, it would likely be hard to keep clean, though my walls end up mostly only with dust and cobwebs, not poop.

Maybe if you sand off all the picky bits and then paint with a heavy bathroom paint that would keep it easy to clean and whole?

Thanks. I can see them eating it.

 

[romahunter]

definitely get rid of anything that the chickens can get ahold of and eat. I had to re-do my ceiling in my roost. it took 3 years for them to discover they could peck chunks free, but once they did, they made short order of tearing and eating anything they could get loose :-() if they can get ahold of foam insulation, they will eat it like it's some kind of delicacy! if the insulation you have in those wall isn't solid core foam, then it's best gotten rid of because it harbors rodents/etc. the solid foam seems to do the trick.

It's regular insulation.

 

[romahunter]

Thanks everyone. I'll get rid of it.