Paint for the run...best kind to use?

[JeninMN]

Hubby and I think we should paint the 2x4's we are using for the outside run to "weather proof" them...is there a no no as far as paint goes as to what NOT to use??

Suggestions on what works best is much appreciated!! Pain or Stain? This is on the south side of our shop...gets plenty of snow / wind in the winter....

Thanks!!!

 

[keljonma]

NONE. No paint or stain is best. The chickens will peck at it. And when it is time to repaint - how are you going to scrape off the old without any chips getting where the flock can eat them? Our barn and garage were painted when we bought the farm. We are leaving them alone and will probably put vinyl siding on the garage, as it is in worse shape. The chickens pecked at it constantly until we put some fencing against it.

Edited to add: Some people use lime white wash... but make sure it is completely dry before putting it near your flock.

Lime White Wash Paint
1 gal water
1# (2 c) salt
5# lime
Mix in pail. Test on wood to see if too thick, if it is, add a tiny amount of water and retest.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I used up whatever paint I had. I have never seen any of my chickens peck at the paint. When it gets a little shabby looking i do a touch up. My girls are healthy and happy.

 

[dftkarin]

I'm wondering this too. If I leave it untreated, it will be exposed to wet and poop and I can already see some mildew even though its just been sitting in my driveway - not in the dirt or used by chickens yet! If I paint it, the paint will wear away and dampness will get in the wood right? And then the paint will start falling off, right?

 

[jubylives]

Paint it. Straight kiln dried lumber will rot if not treated. Even pressure treated will rot eventually. Either paint or keep replacing the board. Untreated or painted wood rots when water is introduced and then air.

I prefer laytex as opposed to enamel. Easier clean up lower fumes. I've never had my chickens pick at the paint. So don;t worry about that.

jeremy

 

[SewingDiva]

I used exterior grade latex for the coop and and framing on the run, and since the run was already built when I painted it I just did the outward facing sides. Everything was primed and there are two coats. I think it's a satin finish because that's all they had in the quart size cans of base when I went to lowes.

The inside of the coop is bare wood as well so they have nothing to peck at.

One thing I did learn - the guys at the paint counter are not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, and one of them tried to tell me I had the wrong kind of base because he asumed by the color I chose that I really needed an interior grade paint!

~Phyllis

 

[spatcher]

Lowes has an excellent non-toxic paint called "Fence & Barn". Comes in only 2 colors, barn red and gray. Covers well and is less than $15 a gallon.

 

[Village Farm]

+1 on the whitewash!

Whitewash is, essentially, a thin stucco. It's quite non-toxic and in its most basic form has roughly the same contents as oyster shell. Your chickens (or you, for that matter) can eat it without problems, assuming you haven't added anything toxic to it such as lead. It's safe whether wet or dry as long as the lime has fully hydrated. It's also pretty tough. It's a decent wood preservative and will discourage fungi and insects (as if the chickens themselves would allow much insect life on their run). You'll need to renew it every couple of years, but it's unlikely that you'll want to scrape it. Whitewash tends to wear thin rather than chipping or flaking off. Just whitewash over it.

Whitewash is the most traditional farm paint due to its low cost, safety for animals, and ability to preserve wood. It doesn't have to be white - add blood and iron, for example, and you get the "barn red" that many people think is paint.