Pressure treated 4x4s for run?

[boat309]

So I am building my run. I wanted to set 6 pressure treated 4x4s in to the ground for the wire mesh to attach to. Will the pt kill or make the birds sick??

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It depends on what it is treated with. Newer treatments are less hazardous. The wood should either be stamped with the chemical or the supplier should be able to tell you what it is. You certainly don't want wood treated with inorganic arsenic.

Look for products certified as an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP).
You might want to read up here.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/hom...working-with-pressure-treated-lumber-15655848

 

[AtholCoop]

So I am building my run. I wanted to set 6 pressure treated 4x4s in to the ground for the wire mesh to attach to. Will the pt kill or make the birds sick??

No.

And I've never heard anyone even offer the slightest evidence that it would.

 

[saladin]

Before setting the post coat them with asphalt or roofing tar for added years to the post.

 

[Andrstein]

Before setting the post coat them with asphalt or roofing tar for added years to the post.

Great advice. I did this to protect from termites which will still eat at the newer types of "treated" wood.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've used pressure treated and non. The regular lumber lasts years also. I'll probably move and have to tear down some buildings before they rot.

The concrete deck blocks work very well. You don't have to dig holes and they keep the lumber dry. With them, all you have to do is paint the bottom of the wood. A tornado would be a problem though.

 

[saladin]

If you lived in the deep south you couldn't say that. The fire ants would have torn down any regular non treated wood that touch the ground.

 

[dbounds10]

I have pressure treated wood that I painted before attaching the wire to it. It has been there for 3 years with no issues to the birds.

 

[BatonRougeChick]

It depends on what it is treated with. Newer treatments are less hazardous. The wood should either be stamped with the chemical or the supplier should be able to tell you what it is. You certainly don't want wood treated with inorganic arsenic.

Look for products certified as an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP).
You might want to read up here.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/hom...working-with-pressure-treated-lumber-15655848

Nope. I built my coop and run with treated pine from Home Depot and my chickens are all fine!

 

[4 the Birds]

So I am building my run. I wanted to set 6 pressure treated 4x4s in to the ground for the wire mesh to attach to. Will the pt kill or make the birds sick??

PT lumber is perfectly safe unless you burn and inhale the smoke fumes. Pressure treated wood is the correct choice for any exterior projects where the wood is exposed to the ground or weather elements. Non pressure treated wood can be used for above ground applications as long as a protective coat of paint protects it from the weather.