Painting the inside of the coop?

[reptileink]

So I've basically reached the "skinning" part of my coop project and it started me thinking about paint. It's made from some pressure treated wood, and regular hemlock 2x4s for the most part. Floor will be plywood and laminate.

I starting wondering how many people paint/skin the inside walls? I was just going to leave them all open, but I thought for any real messes, paint might be better if I ever wanted to hose it down versus wetting "raw" wood. The pressure treated I am not worried about, but the raw 2x4s might be an issue. I really don't want to have to put up plywood all on the inside as well (although it would probably provide some insulation with an air gap between.

Thoughts? Ideas?

 

[jetdog]

I painted mine with a high gloss white, it makes it a lot brighter and seals the small cracks that bugs can get into.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I painted mine with a high gloss white, it makes it a lot brighter and seals the small cracks that bugs can get into.

Then on the other hand if you need to use an oil based insecticide spray to reach into the joints and cracks to kill red mites where they live you're going to have a mess. What I'm saying is do as you see fit, but see or look at all alternatives before you do anything.

I may be forward looking or I could just be cheep, but I wouldn't paint.

 

[JackE]

I painted mine with a high gloss white, it makes it a lot brighter and seals the small cracks that bugs can get into.

X2. The same reasons I painted my coop gloss white on the inside. Like Jetdog says, the small cracks and gaps are sealed, so you don't have to worry about any bugs getting in there.

 

[kayakfish]

I painted floors and up the walls 18 inches with the black roofing rubber paint, it seals the wood, from any moisture, seals the cracks, and the walls, but you can still get red mites even with all the painting done, they will hide in the smallest of crevice's painted or not. I painted to preserve the structures, I do 2 yearly cleanings, everything gets cleaned floors, walls, ceiling joist etc, then I spray permectrin (ie; HORSE FLY SPRAY) in the coop while the chickens' are out for the day, and then lay diamateous earth down in nests, floors, and all cervices, before putting bedding what ever you use back down. I have had absolutely no mite problems, and my chickens all free range.

 

[JackE]

This is what I use for my coop, good stuff.


http://happyjackinc.com/product/kennel-dip-ii/

 

[reptileink]

Hmm, starting to wonder if I am biting off more than I can chew. It seems there are a LOT of things, even though I have been reading a bunch of stuff here, that I haven't thought of.

Red mites?
Horse fly spray?
Dimoticulus Earth (I know what it is, but you always have to use it?)
How do large farms with hundreds of chickens keep up? I only plan on having 3 chickens and it seems the laundry list of stuff I need to use keeps growing.

Are my chickens AUTOMATICALLY going to get mites? Are the mites attracted to them? I am assuming the red mites you all speak of are what I call "concrete mites" that splat red when you smush em? Do I need to worry about bug infestation? I live in the middle of the city and don't think I've ever seen a horsefly in my backyard. Also, I plan on keeping the coop door open, but the way everyone is talking, I have to be wary of bugs getting in? Don't chickens eat bugs? Lol.

 

[snowwhitejen]

I thought that to, but it really isn't that much. I have 5 7 week old babies and once you get set up, its a piece of cake. The entertainment that they provide is so worth the effort.

 

[reptileink]

But like, everyone talks about having vents, and open windows and all that, but yet say to paint the inside to seal any cracks from small bugs? Sooooo, how do you keep them from just getting in the vents with that theory? lol

 

[enola]

The red mites only come out at night to feast on your chickens. Yes, chickens eat bugs. But, they don't eat the types of bugs that eat them. Those are the bugs that we try to keep out of the cracks.

Commercial hpuses are painted with exterior white paint.