Sealing Roosting Bars

[FlockityFlock]

Hello all, newbie here!
After much lurking and learning, I have finally joined and ready to ask questions. My question today (I am sure there will be more lol) is around the roosting bars - is there any way to safely seal them? I am thinking it may help control mites, moisture and make cleaning easier. Has anyone successfully done this? We have 2x4's

 

[Miyer]

I'm interested, too, so I'm following this thread. I was thinking maybe linseed oil or butcher block oil/wax? Any advice from the veterans out there?

 

[Ted Brown]

Sealing a roost will not help with mites. Depending on which type mites (and lice) live on the bird or in cracks between boards.

I have 4 roost bars, moisture is not really an issue as waste from chickens, while moist, is mostly "solids" and falls away from the roosts.

As far as cleaning, I occasionally have to scrape waste from a roost board but it is infrequent. Sealing is not going to change that. In over 6 years I have never cleaned the roosts, they do have stains but I save my cleaning efforts for the drop boards, nests and once or twice a year removing all bedding from the coop and replacing it.

I currently have 24 birds, with another 16 on the way. The majority of my time maintaining is providing feed and water. Anything one can do to reduce that effort is where I have focused my efforts. An example is increasing the size of containers; I started with the usual feeders, now use 5 gallon pails with feeder openings around the bottom.

 

[Miyer]

Hello all, newbie here!
After much lurking and learning, I have finally joined and ready to ask questions. My question today (I am sure there will be more lol) is around the roosting bars - is there any way to safely seal them? I am thinking it may help control mites, moisture and make cleaning easier. Has anyone successfully done this? We have 2x4's

I found this thread, too: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...int-sealer-for-roosting-bars-in-coop.1496418/