Preventing my coop from rotting

[kilmon88]

I have a pen frame made out of 2x3s and feather strips. What can I do to the wood to prevent it from rotting? It's out in the elements and susceptible to rain, ants, and other insects. Any ideas would help, I'm looking to make this last for many years.

 

[4 the Birds]

I have a pen frame made out of 2x3s and feather strips. What can I do to the wood to prevent it from rotting? It's out in the elements and susceptible to rain, ants, and other insects. Any ideas would help, I'm looking to make this last for many years.

If your wood is pressure treated then you are ahead of the game. Painting your frame with a good exterior paint will help a lot! Another good thing to do would be to set some tin sheets over your pen for shade and to keep rain out of the run (less muddy).

 

[kilmon88]

If your wood is pressure treated then you are ahead of the game.   Painting your frame with a good exterior paint will help a lot!   Another good thing to do would be to set some tin sheets over your pen for shade and to keep rain out of the run (less muddy).

Just for reference, my pen is the one in my profile photo on here. None of the wood is pressure treated. Any suggestion on what exterior paint to use?

 

[Fancypants1]

Should I weather seal the wood before I paint it??

 

[Mehjr10]

The environmentalist won't like this, but you can treat it with a mixture of used motor oil and Diesel fuel. Paint this on the wood until it stops soaking in.. Bugs won't eat it and helps keep the rot at bay. We used to use it on a coop floor when I was in my younger years.. Especially on yours for the ground contact boards.. Put something under while painting it will kill the grass..

 

[Suckafish272]

Use something like Kilz primer/sealer from one of the big box stores. At least 2 coats will really extend the life of your wood. And if you don't like the color (white), you can always use an outdoor enamel type paint on top which will protect your wood further.

 

[ContessaKris]

I'm wondering about this as well. We build our coop this weekend. I only bought treated wood for the boards that will have contact with the ground. Did not want treated in the woods that the chickens can come in contact with. However, I don't want it all to weather and rot away. What paint, varnish, whatever is safe for chickens and will keep it from rotting? Wouldn't kill be toxic to them? Just want to do it up right from the beginning. :/

 

[Suckafish272]

Wouldn't kill be toxic to them?

I have to believe that whatever your treated wood is treated with is far more toxic than Kilz. I can tell you that we've had our chickens living in a Kilz painted coop and we haven't seen any ill affects yet. Just be sure to let it dry thoroughly before putting your birds in it. You can also search the forums for "Kilz," and see what others have to say about it.

Remember that Kilz is intended for residential use, among other things. I suspect people are priming their childrens rooms and their kitchens with the stuff so hopefully it's fairly safe.

 

[drmusic]

Many are afraid of using treated wood for fear of toxins, but the method of treating wood changed about 10 or so years ago. The old arsenic-treated wood is not normally sold in lumber yards today. The newer treated wood that uses copper shouldn't be a danger to your chickens.

 

[Mehjr10]

The only thing with kilz since it is a paint or primer it does not penetrate the wood to well.. If you use something that penetrates then you will get a longer life on an untreated piece of wood..