The Poultry Keeper

Jayne · Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Truro, Cornwall

Hi, being new to keeping my own chickens, I'm hoping to pick the brains of all you poultry keeping experts!

I've just built a new chicken house for 6 rescue chickens which I'll be picking up next Tuesday.

A neighbour has given me a roll of thick black waterproof rubber material which is used for insulation/sound proofing and which he used under flooring, and suggested I may be able to cover the wood on top of this chicken house, instead of felt. Does this sound like a good idea?

Also, he gave us some left-over lino, which I thought I may use to line the house, making it much easier to clean out every week, but it's been suggested this may attract red mites much more than leaving it as bare wood?

And another one: I need to stain/treat the wood ready to put the chickens in next week. Any suggestions on suitable wood treatments which will be okay with the chooks?

That's all my questions for now, enough to be going on with!

Appreciate you comments.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1183 Location: Cornwall

Hiya

The black rubber stuff will be ideal for waterproofing the roof. Lino lining is a no no, red mite will love living under that. Any woodstain/preservative is fine to do the hen house with, but don't do the inside, only the outside.

Jayne · Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Truro, Cornwall

I would have stained the inside of the house if you had't mentioned it!

Thanks for your help.

Autumn · Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 486 Location: Suffolk

I painted all the inside with gloss paint as I read somewhere that it helps to keep mites and bugs out...(I really hope that's ok Embarassed

!!)

mojo · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:47 am Post subject:

use kid proof paint/stain and the chooks will be ok............and work it into every nook and cranny ......allow to dry before chooks arrive...........good luck with your new pals