Whitewash the Inside Of Your Coop: Recipe, Cheap and Easy

[mobius]

Super nice job, dyorto!! I know, it can be messy...lol....but

 

[dyorto]

Thank you. I love it. It did get quite a bit whiter and I added a layer of leftover red paint from the outside to the floor.

 

[Tooshay89]

Love it!! Looks great!

 

[Myanka Dax]

This is so awesome! I'm just finishing building my coop. And I was just thinking that even with the big window out front it was a bit dark in there. (It's 4 x 6)
This is sooooo what I am going to be doing over the weekend!
The funny part is that my dad left a huge bag of lime in the shed just last fall. Talk about fate!
GREAT information. Thanks!

 

[dyorto]

Enjoy! Mine still looks great

 

[PaulaMc]

This is the old-fashioned stuff I love to do, and I have had some inquiries, so I am posting the recipe:

Why do it? It prevents lice and mites, and has a small-antibacterial effect.

Whitewash recipe:

For one gallon:

One gallon warm water, mix in two cups table salt til dissolved.
Add and mix throughly: 7 cups HYDRATED lime (garden or feed store).
You can add maybe 1/4 cup elmers or wood glue. Helps it stick and last...
Mix and keep mixing as you use. The lime can settle out pretty quickly...
Slop it on well..roller, big brush, rags....get in all cracks and crevices...
Dries more quickly if weather is warm....I even did the ceiling of the coop...
Goes on clear, dries white!

People do this once a year during coop clean-out!

Thanks for this-going to try it when I get a dry day on my small coop.

 

[electrycmonk]

So cool. Wish I'd of seen this thread this summer..... (Smirks) I was having issues with my phone and the 'NET all summer.

Ended up whitewashing our coop with a Wagner power sprayer. Was actually fun to do.

 

[Betty crocker bear]

My kids and I are currently reading Farmer Boy but Laura Ingalls Wilder. In it, she describes Alamanzo white washing the henhouse. Of course, I came to the Internet to see what old timey techniques that they used. Thank you so much for your recipe and all the photos! Do you feel like it keeps lice and mites away so far? I’m definitely doing this.