Painting the coop

[Hopeful homesteader]

We found 2 buckets of light tan exterior paint in the oops paint section so I got it originally to paint a picnic bench and whatever miscellaneous projects. I want to paint the outside of the coop but my husband says to leave it plain wood cause the paint will trap heat in. Is this really an issue of paint causing more heat? Im concerned that between the rain and heat here (southern AZ) the boards will warp very quickly and I'd like to preserve it as long as possible. Another question I have is about painting the roosting bars, they are 2×4's and I sanded them to prevent splinters, again my husband says no paint in the coop cause they'll scratch it off and eat it. I like the idea of painting them as with the picnic bench, anything and everything wipes off really easily and since its waterproof, soaking it hasn't caused any warping and I figured it would be great to be able to wipe down the roosting bars as needed if they happen to poop on them. Is he overreacting or am I trying to do too much?

 

[Callender Girl]

I agree that painting the coop to protect the wood is a good idea. All of mine are painted -- except the newest one, which is waiting for me to apply some Thompson's Water Seal to all the overly expensive lumber I had to buy this spring.

I understand wanting to paint the roosts to make it easier to clean, but I also think it would make them too slippery for the chickens.

 

[3KillerBs]

It's fine to pain the coop. Paint protects wood.

I wouldn't paint perches though. I'd think it would make them slippery and uncomfortable to use.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yes to painting the coop. No to painting the roosts.

My coops have always been painted inside and out. No one has scratched off paint or eaten it.

 

[aart]

cause the paint will trap heat in.

Nonsense. Wood doesn't 'breathe'.
Now painting a coop black might increase heat transfer.

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

It's fine to pain the coop. Paint protects wood.

I wouldn't paint perches though. I'd think it would make them slippery and uncomfortable to use.

Will I have to sand the perches often? I'll add a picture from the baby coop where they started pecking the wood of the upper level, I think it was out of boredom while I got their run completed and they stopped once I started putting them in the run daily. The new coop is attached to the run so unless I have to keep them in from rain or something I don't think it should be a problem but they splintered the board pretty good in just 3 days, Idk if it's something chickens generally do or just from being cooped up too long. I'd pull off the long splinters and sand it and find more pecked out the next day, I was worried someone would lose an eye or something, they can be quite destructive but I'm glad it was the board that took the beating instead of a chicken.

 

[21hens-incharge]

No need to either insulate or cover the triangles for that kind of a winter -- as long as the rain doesn't blow in.

Insulation just attracts rodents by offering them a cozy home.

My winters are just a little colder than yours and my chickens have been healthy and happy in the Little Monitor Coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/

View attachment 2785672

The canopy overtop is for shade, not rain protection.

^^^^This^^^^

In your climate that he only worry is keeping things dry. They have down coats so I hose temps will be easy to acclimate to.

We get below zero here and I only close my windows never my vents. Dry birds are far better off than ones trapped inside with all the moisture from breathing and poo.

Last winter our lows were -16F and there were only 2 birds out of 19 chickens and 7 ducks that even had a tiny touch of frostbite.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Following up on what Aart said, a dark color will heat things up. In winter I use black rubber bowls set in the sun for water. If the sun is shining water stays thawed even in the mid teens Fahrenheit. In summer I use white bowls in the shade to keep water cooler.

When we got a new roof we went from dark shingles to a light reflective metal. It costs less to keep the house cool in summer, more to heat the house in winter.

Color does matter. If your paint makes it darker it will be warmer. If your paint makes it lighter it will be cooler. Not because paint traps heat on wood but because darker colors absorb heat and light colors reflect it.

 

[3KillerBs]

View attachment 2785562
That's the picnic bench for color reference, it's lighter than the wood. We used leftover roofing wood for it that has that silver heat resistant lining that faces down and then will run tar paper over the top and coat it with white elastomeric roof coating. We don't get too cold here, most of the winter it doesn't usually drop below 40 and winter day's is low 60's. Over the last 5 years there's 1 or 2 nights it'll randomly drop to the 30's in January enough to see snow/slush but nothing that ever sticks and not long enough to freeze water.View attachment 2785603
All 4 walls have ventilation for summer, I plan to cover the 2 largest triangular one's and leave the 2 long strips open through winter and monitor the temperature in there at night. My mother-in-law gave us some old comforters that I may tack up inside as insulation if necessary. This is my first time having chickens so I just have to wait and see.

No need to either insulate or cover the triangles for that kind of a winter -- as long as the rain doesn't blow in.

Insulation just attracts rodents by offering them a cozy home.

My winters are just a little colder than yours and my chickens have been healthy and happy in the Little Monitor Coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/

The canopy overtop is for shade, not rain protection.

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

Wow. You must get some serious winds to blow rain in with a foot of overhang.

Where, in general, are you located? (You can put it in your profile so people can give more targeted advice).

Southern AZ, monsoons have some wild winds but about 2 weeks ago we had a tornado warning. Was a first for me but no tornado thankfully, the wind ripped the latch off my back gate and split the 4×4 it was mounted to, made a mess of the yard but no other damage. Several of the other storms I'd be standing under the car port about 15ish feet back from the eave and the rain was splashing my face. We're on the edge of town, out my front door is open desert so we get the brunt of the wind when storms come through. We had no rain last year so I think this year is trying to make up for it.