Painting roosts

[Kit]

Newbie here - with 6 wk old chicks in their new coop - One thing I've found that I would have done differently is I would have painted the roosts and all other bare wood in the coop - once they go outside - any time now, as soon as we finish fencing their run - I'm going to lock them out for a few hours , sand down the roosts, and paint them - should be much easier to clean. They are disgusting already! Just a suggestion for someone else who might be building their coop.

 

[AlienChick]

I'm still building my coop, and I painted all the roosts.

I even added another coat of some floor acrylic I had laying around to add extra slickness for ease of cleaning.

They look real nice . . . while their nice and clean.

 

[LilyD]

Good idea. Do you need to get special paint so that it's not toxic if the birds decide to try to chew on it?

 

[AlienChick]

No worries.

They won't chew on the wood the way a Parrot would.

 

[dirtsaver]

I never thought about paining roosts. I used 2x4s,left them bare and sprinkle DE on them several times a week and use a putty knife to scrape off any poo that collects. It works fine for me that way. Anyone with painted roosts long-term have comments on if it helps in cleanup?

Larry

 

[Mallory]

Quote:
I'd like to know, as well.

About to start building our coop here, and I'd like to paint the outside. I figured the paint wouldn't be good for the birds enviroment? So I wasn't planning on it, but if its safe then why not?

 

[sunshineyarns]

We used just a natural water-based acrylic to cover the floor of the coop, and I'll use the same for the runs. Nothing crazy, but I'm guessing it will be better than totally unfinished wood (hoping)

 

[surfchicken72]

painted roosts get just as "nasty"

The only advantage I saw was it wouldn't "soak" into the wood if it's painted. cleanup has to be similar
depending on how often you do it.

ONE THING: I've seen posts that you shouldn't put them back in the coop til the smell of paint is gone.
the fumes can be harmful.

Can anyone else back that up?

(Everything in my coop is painted. 2 coats on the walls 3 coats on the roosts.)
I also used acrylic inside.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I've read this a number of times -- and to me it just makes sense. I can't believe paint fumes are very good for any animal, including people. Ads for "organic" or "natural" paint claim no harmful fumes. Of course that doesn't prove that other fumes are harmful, but still....

I've never painted my 2x4 roosts. I didn't see any point, and didn't want to see scratched up paint. Yes it would cover some spots that mites/lice could hide -- but scratches in paint would create more. Or so went my thinking. I like one method I've read about, to scrape with a putty knife or similar tool as needed, then once or twice a year, resand and oil them with veggie oil.

I think in the end it's personal preference, rather than a "right" or "best" way.

 

[surfchicken72]

Quote:
Agreed.