Painting my brooder

[columbiacritter]

I'm making a nice big brooder out of a wooden crate that's 6'L x 3'w x 3'h. The sides and bottom are reinforced 1/2 plywood.

Tonight I painted the inside with some of the ultra cheap mis mix paint that is a really startling shade of sky blue. It wil be much easier to keep clean, but I'm wondering if the color will cause any problems. I've heard chicks react very differently to different colored lights. Can I leave it horrid blue or do I need to tone it down with some white paint?

Once it's painted I'll make a lid for it and a moveable divider. It should be able to hold my husbands 20 Japanese bantam chicks from delivery to full feathering.

 

[gritsar]

The light issue is basically just using a red light to discourage pecking.
I used a kiddie pool brooder for mine and it was bright blue. There wasn't a problem. In fact they basically ignored it.
I used the mis-matched paint thing too when it was time to paint the inside of my coop. It's light gray. Because the walls are so tall and stark I'm always tempted to add chicken graffiti - things like "Make eggs, not war!" "Chicks rule!", etc. I'm afraid my chickens would peck their beaks off attempting to eat it.

 

[columbiacritter]

I am a great fan of mis mix paint. My main coop is dark purple on the outside and lime green on the inside.

But I paid less than $10 for all the paint.

 

[gritsar]

Purple is my favorite color. Unfortunately it's not my SO's. Therefore the outside of my coop is gonna be a nice sedate blue. Yes, I haven't painted it yet but plan to this week.
If somethings all one color chickens don't tend to notice. Now paint a nice big red circle on the inside of the brooder and they'll spend hours pecking at it.

 

[Bellboy91]

Old post but if anyone's still looking at this make sure to use exterior paint and primer in one if not primer first. It'll flake off quick. Also flat sheen won't scrub too well so satin or semi-gloss will clean off much easier. I'm a painter first time chicking daddy, am trying to see if the paint fumes, chips have made anyone's birds sick?