Should I stain my new roosts? Pine

[Kakaruk]

Hi,

Because I had a few hens sleeping in the laying boxes, and after hearing from some of you too, I am replacing my 1 inch round/pole roost posts with the 2 x 4 approach. I think the round 1 inch (which came with the coop when I bought it) are just too small and the hens are less comfortable sleeping on them at night.

I just bought some plain pine 2 x 4's. The question is: Should I stain the plain pine or just put it in the coop a-natural, just like it is?

Ideas?

 

[3KillerBs]

Hi,

Because I had a few hens sleeping in the laying boxes, and after hearing from some of you too, I am replacing my 1 inch round/pole roost posts with the 2 x 4 approach. I think the round 1 inch (which came with the coop when I bought it) are just too small and the hens are less comfortable sleeping on them at night.

I just bought some plain pine 2 x 4's. The question is: Should I stain the plain pine or just put it in the coop a-natural, just like it is?

Ideas?

Just use it as it, rounding over the corners with sandpaper if they're sharp.

It's going to get covered with chicken poop and chicken feather dust in short order so there's not much point to making it pretty.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I just bought some plain pine 2 x 4's. The question is: Should I stain the plain pine or just put it in the coop a-natural, just like it is?

Ideas?

Either way is perfectly fine and a better choice than the round poles as you've already noticed.

I have both stained (deck stain ROCKS) and unfinished roosts.. usually fir, I think.. I like to use kiln dried.. as it MAY bow less than fresh 2x4.. so when I position it if there is a natural curve to the wood I make it curve UP so that as it starts to bow down with time and weight.. it just levels out.. although what I'm describing is minute differences for most people.. my hubby and I tend to obsess over the little stuff a tad too much.

All bare wood in my location will essentially grow a type of mildew looking stuff and change it's patina to black and nasty. So ALL wood surfaces are finished if possible HERE in the PNW on the coast .. for MY own comfort where ambient humidity rarely drops below 65% and is often up to 99-100%. Fortunately (or un) my low temps also limit what does grow. But any bumpy surface can harbor spores that grow into fluffy stuff... Finished surfaces WIPE down easier.. MAY be less likely to harbor roost mites.

I agree with the first poster though.. rubbing off the sharp edges is a good choice. And yes, regardless of finished or not.. roost do quickly become coated in feces.. that dries hard and makes it's own covering.

Nest box sleeping can be habitual.. and likely may need some retraining since chickens are very much creatures of habit.

Glad you found the forum and hope your ladies enjoy their new set up!

 

[Kakaruk]

Thank ya'll! I did not finish, just put in as is. I used cardboard last night to block the entrances to the laying boxes. I'm gonna try this for a few nights and see where I'm at.

For the purpose, they 'seemed' to like the larger surface area better but I probably won't know for sure until a week or two. If I can keep them out of the laying boxes that will mean they are happier I guess!

 

[KarynVA]

I have the same type of roost and what I do is wrap it in newspaper and tape it securely with masking tape on the underside from where they stand on it. Then, when it gets intolerably poopy, or once a week or so, whichever comes first, I replace the paper and the wood stays pristine.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Either way is perfectly fine and a better choice than the round poles as you've already noticed.

I have both stained (deck stain ROCKS) and unfinished roosts.. usually fir, I think.. I like to use kiln dried.. as it MAY bow less than fresh 2x4.. so when I position it if there is a natural curve to the wood I make it curve UP so that as it starts to bow down with time and weight.. it just levels out.. although what I'm describing is minute differences for most people.. my hubby and I tend to obsess over the little stuff a tad too much.

This is the "Crown", and yes, it should always be up.

All bare wood in my location will essentially grow a type of mildew looking stuff and change it's patina to black and nasty. So ALL wood surfaces are finished if possible HERE in the PNW on the coast .. for MY own comfort where ambient humidity rarely drops below 65% and is often up to 99-100%. Fortunately (or un) my low temps also limit what does grow. But any bumpy surface can harbor spores that grow into fluffy stuff... Finished surfaces WIPE down easier.. MAY be less likely to harbor roost mites.

I agree with the first poster though.. rubbing off the sharp edges is a good choice. And yes, regardless of finished or not.. roost do quickly become coated in feces.. that dries hard and makes it's own covering.

Not personally fond of stains in roost, because chickens explore the world with their beaks - but paste finishing wax (carnuaba), tung oil, butcher block oil, etc are all fine for use