The Poultry Keeper

HaplessInHampshire

its an 8'x6' apex t%g shiplap shed.
ive bought a 'portabase' treated wood base thingy im going to rest on grass on small piles of slabs for levelling.
im going to get corrugated roofing sheets from wickes to use instead of the felt over the t&g roof...
and lazy me is going to buy nest boxes and pop holes etc. and even buy run panels to make a 6'x6' walk in run, also roofed in the sheeting.

first question of the no-doubt lengthy saga that this chicken house building will turn into is:
i know youre not supposed to paint wood inside and out coz it stops it breathing... but in order to reduce redmite hiding places, can i coat the inside in danish oil or wax oil or something, and still paint the outside? will that work if i paint the outside not in paint but only in wood preserver (much less exciting colours Smile

)?
help me with the paint thing pls.

actually, ive heard creosote is the thing to keep away the mites... but where does one get that, and again, can i paint the outside?

THANK YOU ALL in advance for your patience and wisdom - you stars Very Happy

HaplessInHampshire · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject:

oh, and question 2:
what guage of weldmesh should i use to cover the opening window?

Big D · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 361 Location: Cumbria

Hi Hap
I have always painted inside and out. I think if your ventilation is right it wont matter. I maybe wrong though so lets see what the more experienced keepers/builders say Think

Stujan · Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Posts: 465 Location: East Sussex

Hi, it sounds like you have got a lovely shed and plans for a run too , but I would "personaly" not use danish oil as its main ingredient is tung oil which is from the tung nut and is a vegetable derived oil , this you might find could be very attractive to mites and other insects. There are plant based oils that do however have insect repelling properties , cedar oil is one , tea trea oil is another , these could be applied diluted with water , cedar oil can be diluted as 20 drops per litre and sprayed on but the tea tree oil is far more potent and would be best diluted to 5 drops per litre.
True creosote is now illegal as it is carcinogenic (cancer causing) . Plain paint would not allow wood to breath so a basic good quality wood preserver would be better , but must be allowed to dry fully before any livestock is allowed near it . A wax based treatment might be ok but these tend to be suited best to smooth planed wood and not sawn cut wood .
Here are the names of some companies that are reputable and have many safe wood treatments ,

Blackfriars
Rustins
Liberon
Chestnut
Axminster power tools

They all have websites with plenty of information , Take your time over choosing and dare I say avoid cheap mega bucket wood treatments from DIY stores .
Good luck and best wishes Very Happy

HaplessInHampshire · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

thank you stujan - plenty to mull over there Smile

HaplessInHampshire · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject:

ooh bigD didnt notice you there...
when you say you've always done it... how long is always? and its seemed to work for you?

Big D · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 361 Location: Cumbria

I have painted/ wood stained the interior and exterior of this chicken coop for the last 3 years. The dogs kennel has a stained interior as does most of my mates poultry and animal housing. If you are using ply its essential, stops the ingress of liquids.

Big D #2 (will be finished before Christmas) has four coats on the inside already.

Haven't used Danish oil before but on a previous topic in Housing under the title "ply or ship lap" Danish oil is recommended as it gunks up the joints so inhibiting red mites. As I said ,as I haven't used it before I cannot agree or disagree

Big D · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 361 Location: Cumbria

P.S. I am dead jealous.
tongue2

(green eyed monster)

Oh.. for the space to fit a shed and a run...........and more chickens Very Happy

CP · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:48 am Post subject:

One of our members recommended painting the inside of the coop with whitewash.... Wink

Lisleoise · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:46 am Post subject:

We've aways added extra strengthening pieces of wood screwed across the interior. Just to be sure it doesn't move.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3540 Location: Monmouthshire

Before you erect the shed, paint all the bits with creosote. The substitute stuff works as well as the other for anti red mite treatment. If you don't like creosote, do the inside, once the shed is erected, with lime wash (not whitewash) which is a traditional inside paint for animal sheds - admittedly usually on stone or brick surfaces. Lime does livestock no harm but a considerable amount to unwanted creepies. It must be redone at least once a year. Put on the correct roof, the window with weld mesh will be more than enough ventilation, and there is a lot of space above the chicken for them not to overheat. I too have poultry in garden sheds, and they are adequately ventilated without affecting the stability by using an inferior type of roofing material.

HaplessInHampshire · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject:

thank you all!
can i get creosote substitute from scats, d'you think? might pop out and see...

chicken_house_man · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 129 Location: Brynmawr

If you are using corrogated roof then you can vent through the ridge, just mount the roof sections slighlty lower so they don't meet at the middle. It may be less work than re making the window although you might need a low level vent as well.

Go higher than parving slabs so you dont get rats living underneath. Concrete blokes are about right

Woodburner · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject:

The thing about painting a shed inside and out is not so much about the interior of the shed as the wood itself.
There are 'breathable' paints available but I don't know if they are suitable for chicken houses or not.

HaplessInHampshire · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject:

OK, WAS PLANNING TO (sorry) was planning to have piles of slabs iyswim, and raise the base for the house about a foot off the ground, and level it that way too (as much as poss)

i still havent shifted my arse out to scats to see if they have the creosote substitute./.. and am as yet undecided on paints.

i will try to ventilate through the roof, thanks CHM... will do the windows too tho.