What are y'all treating lumber with that you are using for your coops?

[ChickenFan]

Hi Everyone,

We are getting ready to build a new coop.

Clearly we need to protect the wood from rain and other moisture but we don't want to use a toxic treatment.

What are some safe options for treating wood considering that chickens will try and eat everything around them.

Thanks!

 

[silkiechicken]

I just painted my coup with regular old semi gloss stain.

 

[ChickenFan]

Isn't that toxic though it they start pecking at it?

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, once it's dry it doesn't come off and they don't actively peck on it. My coup is almost 10 years old now and haven't had a problem with birds and the paint.

On some of my smaller coup's I used a latex based stain to make them barn red. My hens were all silly and decided to walk under it and use it as a perch while it was still wet... some got it on their black feathers and still have red dots to show for it!

They are fine. I wouldn't worry about it. I think the only thing that some worry about is the really really old style pressure treated wood that used some copper based stuff that would soak out of it and collect in puddles.

 

[ChickenFan]

OK, thanks!

 

[michellerene]

I'm painting mine this weekend-- regular old exterior house paint. The can't reach the parts I'm painting yet, so it will be long dry by the time they can. Just can't decide on a color...

 

[2mnypets]

We just used barn and fence paint. It's thinner which means it will just basically "fade" off rather than peel. We thought it would create less of a pecking interest if you know what I mean.