Too late to water-seal chicken run structure?

[frog522]

A question has been eating at me for some time now...I just recently built a chicken run with wood (duh

) and hardware cloth. At the time I was hurrying to get the run done. It hasn't rained yet but I am concerned that I should have sealed the wood (is this the right terminology? I am total foreign to many things in the hardware store...) beforehand.

Is it too late to seal the wood? Can I just brush on the sealant onto the wood and some of the parts that have hardware cloth covering the wood? I'm hoping that if I can do it (and it's not toxic to chickens) then the run will last longer.

Any suggestions on what kind of product to use to keep the wood from absorbing water and becoming weathered?

 

[rancher hicks]

If you have a non toxic sealer you can seal it anytime. In fact it's something you have to do every year or so. Just make sure the birds are out until it dries.

Have fun

Rancher

 

[patandchickens]

What rancher hicks said

Pat

 

[B'villechicken]

What Pat said....

 

[NewHen]

Despite my repeated advice to stain before adding the hardware mesh, that did not happen when my run was built. There's a little stain on the wire, but it doesn't look so bad. Unfortunately, my orpington who is fearless and curious has a few "orange" splashes on her now. I just went to home depot and got a stain/sealant that matched my coop. Someone painted it with a little roller brush and paint brush. It's hot and dry here and I think it dried in less than a day. I'm really sensitive to smells and I didn't notice any residual smell by the next day. It's my understanding you stain/seal it to preserve or attain the color you want and so the wood doesn't warp and rot.

 

[frog522]

Ooo...thanks for the replies. What recommendations do you guys/gals have for brand(s) of sealants?

 

[chickenwhisperer]

I like to use a water-based primer like Kilz, then a thick coat or 2 of latex paint.
If your chickens eat any of that, they will be fine.

If you use oil-based stains or sealers, you could have problems if they eat it or from the fumes if in enclosed area.


I also used a roller, and painted the 1/2" wire cloth too.

 

[mgw]

thompsons water seal

 

[CityChook]

I like plain ol' linseed oil, mixed 50/50 with mineral spirits. The mineral spirits helps the oil soak into the wood.

 

[NewHen]

Quote:
I never thought of that before for an outside structure. How often do you have to redo it? I've gotten linseed oil in art supply stores but is it available too in hardware stores?