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/

 

[Nonafel]

Install your roosting bars in a way that with just a few screws you can take the bar off.
This is the best way. Replace or cycle bars and you can take your time really cleaning them.
Putting anything on roosting bars means contact with chicken feet all night. Can lead to problems depending on the substance, or your mistake/not knowing what's in whatever you apply.

I use simple 2x4s laid flat, zero issues and great for cold weather as my cheeps can keep their feet covered with feathers.
A scrap every now and then from a flat tool and they stay clean.

 

[debid]

Don't bother sealing roosts. You would put in time and money plus risk making it slippery for no gain.

The only time the roost gets poop on it is if one steps in some right before hopping up. They otherwise will release their droppings free and clear.

I made my roosts easy to remove by installing hangers on the walls (just scraps of wood to stop the roost from moving in any direction except straight up) and NOT screwing them down. I can just lift them out of their hangers as needed to make cleaning and access easier.

The best way to prevent lice/mites is to keep wild birds out of their space and make sure they always have access to somewhere they can have a dustbath.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

I use tree limbs with the bark still on and 2x4's upright, not flat.

control mites,

This is the hardest one to talk about. Red mites can live in your roosts if they can find cracks or spaces. They only come out when it is dark, so they are not usually a problem in daytime. Even if you seal your roosts so mites cannot use them, they can usually find other places to hide like walls, bedding, or the nests. You may get some benefit regarding mites if you seal the roosts but I'm not convinced it is much. The way I approach mite control is to inspect them off of the roosts at night to see if there is really an issue and treat as necessary. So far, I haven't found any. Growing up on the farm many years ago Dad found mites twice over 20 years and treated for them. Some people have huge problems with mite, they show up all of the time. Others of us don't have those problems.

moisture

Totally not an issue.

and make cleaning easier.

I never clean mine, it is not an issue. Poop just does not build up. Some people on here really freak out at the thought of a poop stain. Clean, clean, clean. They usually don't last that long with chickens unless they change their attitude a bit. I'm not talking a pile of poop, just a stain. You will have to determine what standards you keep. Poop does not build up on my roosts. My 2x4's are on edge, not flat, so I don't know if that makes any real difference.

It is good to ask these things and get opinions. You can usually get a lot of different opinions on this forum no matter what the topic. Some people do treat the roosts against mites, whether with paints or something else. Hopefully some of them will show up on this thread and speak from their experience. But I have not seen a reason to seal or treat my roosts against mites.

Good luck and once again,