Tractor Supply 18 chicken coop - how to seal the bare wood? Plus a few other ???

[nanobooboo]

Hi, just got this coop put together and am now pondering a few things. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...e-defender-chicken-coop-2020-1168239n-1485380

First item: I want to know what product is recommended that would safely seal/paint the wood since it is untreated. We are located in NE Pennsylvania so we do get pretty cold, a lot of rain and some snow and that's a consideration (as well as bird safety)!

Second item: What do y'all recommend for treating or covering the wood inside? I can't imagine trying to clean the walls the way it is. Paint? Sealer? Lining the interior with FRP (like in commercial kitchens) for easy cleaning? I read about APOC 243 in another post but didn't check the MSDS.

I measured the 4 laying boxes and toyed with the idea of covering with roll vinyl. I have 2 rolls, each measuring 6'x8'. Then I read that folks are laying vinyl on the run part, often on top of plywood for cleanliness. So now I'm thinking of doing that in the run area which is 10'x10'. I'll likely use construction sand and the horse pellets. They'll also be able to free range.

I will install the HWC apron, and get a roof on as well. Any tips on connecting the HWC to the fencing?

Right now I have paralysis by analysis. If I can get going on the interior that'd be great.

 

[Debbie292d]

We have a wood floor in a new Amish coop we bought. Hubby painted it with wood stain the paint shop recommended.



2 coats. So far we really like it!



In our other old coop, he laid linoleum in it and trimmed around it. That works nice too.


We use horse bedding pellets in both coops.

 

[nuthatched]

Before you do any modification, please be aware that it can only hold 6 chickens maximum and not 18, the ventilation will need to be increased drastically and the wood used will unfortunately deteriorate in 3 years, even with sealer since it's very cheap grade wood.

 

[CraziChknLady]

Have this same one. It has worked well for what I needed. Although got mine used so it was probably already a year or so old. And I have had it at least 3-4 years. The nest boxes will rot first. I definitely recommend putting metal down then some type of covering. Definitely add handles to the nest box doors! Eventually that wood swells and it's hard to get it open or closed. Under the roosts is metal with a tray. You Won't have to worry as much here but the trays can crack over time, especially the corners. Add more ventilation! The current vent is fine, but I would add hardware cloth inside. The vent eventually weakend enough that a raccoon pulled the vent off and got 2 of my chickens. Not fun. I would not recommend putting food or shavings in the storage area, mice can easily get in there. I would also recommend putting hardware cloth around the cage part, to keep wild birds out. After a year or so, my mom built an "addition" to mine, so I've actually had 15-20 ( maybe 25) in mine. But at the time at least half were 12-18 weeks along with banty adult. Definitely paint it, will help with longevity. The cage is the best part. Tarps are ok but eventually those rip off.

 

[nanobooboo]

Have this same one. It has worked well for what I needed. Although got mine used so it was probably already a year or so old. And I have had it at least 3-4 years. The nest boxes will rot first. I definitely recommend putting metal down then some type of covering. Definitely add handles to the nest box doors! Eventually that wood swells and it's hard to get it open or closed. Under the roosts is metal with a tray. You Won't have to worry as much here but the trays can crack over time, especially the corners. Add more ventilation! The current vent is fine, but I would add hardware cloth inside. The vent eventually weakend enough that a raccoon pulled the vent off and got 2 of my chickens. Not fun. I would not recommend putting food or shavings in the storage area, mice can easily get in there. I would also recommend putting hardware cloth around the cage part, to keep wild birds out. After a year or so, my mom built an "addition" to mine, so I've actually had 15-20 ( maybe 25) in mine. But at the time at least half were 12-18 weeks along with banty adult. Definitely paint it, will help with longevity. The cage is the best part. Tarps are ok but eventually those rip off.

Thank you for the info - some good advice there! I recognize it's not the mac daddy of design or materials, but it was a gift and I will make the most of it! I don't understand those trays over the nesting boxes at all; they must be to protect the laying boxes from the poop. (Engineer, every seen a chicken coop?) I have hardware cloth to line the cage/run with, and corrugated panels for the roof. Where are you? Are you dealing with cold weather?

 

[CraziChknLady]

I'm in Tn. Our summer just started here, although we were cooler for longer than normal. Our spring was extremely wet and we got a ton of rain. t's not so much the high temps in the summer that you have to worry about as it is the humidity. Basically feels like your stepping outside in an oven.

 

[CraziChknLady]

Since the style ofcoop is a raised one, it makes it easier to clean overall. I would much rather clean the raised one than my 12x12. One drawback though is with bad weather they don't have as much room to move around.

I forgot to mention that eventually the wood for the chicken door and ramp will eventually rot. And the door will fall apart. We winded up taking an extra piece of wood and putting it on hinges for the door.

 

[nanobooboo]

Thanks for taking the time to give me some good tips. Anything I can do to improve and/or fortify the house will be done prior to moving the girls in. My first step was to use Flex Seal on the 4 metal trays to ward off rust from corrosion. I have Ready Seal to put on the wooden surfaces to preserve and protect them. Now to address one of the most vulnerable surfaces - the laying boxes. Any thoughts on Flex Sealing those as well? They'll have nesting materials on all the metal trays and in the nests as well.

 

[CraziChknLady]

Thanks for taking the time to give me some good tips. Anything I can do to improve and/or fortify the house will be done prior to moving the girls in. My first step was to use Flex Seal on the 4 metal trays to ward off rust from corrosion. I have Ready Seal to put on the wooden surfaces to preserve and protect them. Now to address one of the most vulnerable surfaces - the laying boxes. Any thoughts on Flex Sealing those as well? They'll have nesting materials on all the metal trays and in the nests as well.

It probably wouldn't hurt the flex seal or paint them. Just some sort of protection will help. Don't forget about ventilation too!