Painting a roost

[Kris64]

I've painted our coop inside and out with Livestock Safe paint for protection to the wood and I've read that that'll help deter mites. What about the roosts? Any thoughts on painting these? Or using pressure-treated? I'm looking for protection against mites and for ease of cleaning. Thanks!

 

[Judy]

The paint will get scratched off in no time. Of the various approaches I've seen here, I like best simply oiling an unfinished board with some sort of veggie oil now and then. Or, use a fat tree branch and just change it out now and then.

 

[PapaChaz]

The paint will get scratched off in no time. Of the various approaches I've seen here, I like best simply oiling an unfinished board with some sort of veggie oil now and then. Or, use a fat tree branch and just change it out now and then.

do you then set up a video camera to watch them slip and slide???

J/K..........I would worry about vegetable oil attracting bugs, but then that just gives the girls something to do

 

[ConPollos]

Yesterday I read an article about painting the roost bar with linseed oil to keep mites from residing in it. I don't have the link but it should come up on Google.

 

[PapaChaz]

Yesterday I read an article about painting the roost bar with linseed oil to keep mites from residing in it. I don't have the link but it should come up on Google.

linseed oil is a great preservative too.

 

[ConPollos]

If I paint my roost bars with linseed oil, can I whitewash over them once they're dry?

 

[Kris64]

Good idea! I'm looking further into the use of linseed oil now. Thanks.

 

[ConPollos]

I got a "historic whitewash recipe" off the Ask The Builder website and bought the ingredients to make it. It's supposed to prevent parasites and bad bacteria. I had a pharmacist order the Alum because I couldn't find that, but the other ingredients are a 50 lb bag of lime from TSC, salt, and unsulphered molasses.

 

[PapaChaz]

did you coat them with the linseed oil? I don't know why it would be necessary to do both

 

[ConPollos]

did you coat them with the linseed oil? I don't know why it would be necessary to do both

I agree, no need to do both, so I'm going to use the historic whitewash recipe: Hydrated Lime powder, Alum, Unsulphered Molasses, Salt, and water.