Is tannelised timber OK for perches?

[Margaid]

I don't like the plastic perches in the Solway Hen House - they're 40mm square and only have one slightly rounded edge.

Because of our building work we have loads of timber offcuts and the machinery to plane and shape it, but nearly all of it is tannelised. We can find some that is "old" so that everything is well dried out, just concerned that the birds may absorb something through their feet.

Any comments please?

 

[chrismahon]

Its supposed to be safe stuff Margaid. If it were creosote I'd say definately not. The old is going to be the best, but moisture in their feet may activate it. Personally I wouldn't risk it. Having said that ours do perch for short periods on a tannelised spar across the run, but that rapidly got covered in mud anyway. Others perch for short periods on spars treated with Cuprinol wood preserver. Funnily enough now I think about it, that's the side of the Orchard where all the 'verrucas' have occurred.

 

[Stapfam]

I may be wrong but I thought Tanalised Timber had not been available for quite a few years due to the Active ingredient being a "Banned" substance. The term Tanalised still exists but I think it is called by another name and the dangerous ingredient has been replaced.

But as I say- I may be wrong. However-I used to show Foreign finches and one of the tricks for those that chewed wood such as perches and Aviary panels- was to used Tanalised wood for those parts. The birds did not like it and they never came to any harm from the little they did eat.

 

[Margaid]

You're right in saying the "dangerous" ingredient has been removed Stapfam - it was also the ingredient that really worked. Fence posts now rot through at ground level after about 3 years, and unlike real Creosote you can't get the old stuff.

We (that's my experienced chicken friend and me) have actually decided to try one of the plastic perches and see whether any of the hens use it. OH said he will round off one of the other edges for me. The finish is quite rough to touch so the birsd won't slip off.

 

[Chuck]

Tanalised and creosotd perches are fine. I've used both for years and had no problems with either. I keep a spare set of perches for each house, put the clean ones in and clean and creosote the ones taken out ready to go back in again.