Question!
- Thread starter ChickInn
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rick
Active member
Personally, I wouldn't but it's a matter of standing time and ventilation. A traditional house/coop is quite a small and enclosed space - I think, if it was creosoted on the inside (and presuming that the creosote is a red mite proofing), it would need to stand for at least a month with the top off before the chickens could go back inside. That's what I would assume. Larger, open arrangements - the airing time would be shorter.
For weather protection reasons, just the outside.
For mite protection on the inside, Dinosaw's diatom slurry solution works very well in corners and the tiny gaps. All my perches are now on aluminium posts with small cups full of diatom at the bottom - I will have a lot of very hungry mites around for a while but midnight chicken snacks are off the menu!
For weather protection reasons, just the outside.
For mite protection on the inside, Dinosaw's diatom slurry solution works very well in corners and the tiny gaps. All my perches are now on aluminium posts with small cups full of diatom at the bottom - I will have a lot of very hungry mites around for a while but midnight chicken snacks are off the menu!
Personally, I wouldn't use creosote at all. On the outside, you will get five-year protection from the weather if you use a solvent-based wood preservative, which dries faster and is much less messy to apply. Ronseal Shed and Fence Preserver contains fungicide and woodworm preventer as well as soaking into the wood and waterproofing it really effectively if you use three coats. It does need good drying conditions between coats, however - it dries fast in summer sunshine but takes a day or so between coats in cold or damp conditions. I've just done our summerhouse with it, and then I jet washed all the wooden garden furniture and re-coated it, so now it's looking lovely and the rain just rolls off. Inside, I would use a water-based wood preservative in a light colour. Wickes Home of Colour range is good - basically a quick-drying outdoor emulsion paint which has much less odour and is a lot less toxic than creosote - followed by painting with diatom slurry, as others have advised.
And, of course, for mite prevention, the type of covering on the roof is important - mites get between felted layers and are then impossible to eradicate. Green or black plastic corrugated sheeting such as Onduline or Wickes own brand is better, and also provides good high-level ventilation under the corrugations.
Actually, although I can recommend these products from long use in our garden, this thread makes me very glad that I chose a Green Frog plastic coop - I have enough to do, keeping up with the garden sheds and buildings, never mind the coop!
And, of course, for mite prevention, the type of covering on the roof is important - mites get between felted layers and are then impossible to eradicate. Green or black plastic corrugated sheeting such as Onduline or Wickes own brand is better, and also provides good high-level ventilation under the corrugations.
Actually, although I can recommend these products from long use in our garden, this thread makes me very glad that I chose a Green Frog plastic coop - I have enough to do, keeping up with the garden sheds and buildings, never mind the coop!
chrismahon
Well-known member
I made myself very ill trying to paint the inside of a coop with creosote, so the chickens would really suffer if it didn't dry thoroughly. We do paint all the coops inside with creosote diluted 50:50 with paraffin for a faster drying time. But all our coops can be completely disassembled so that each panel is painted in open air, then left 2 weeks at least to dry before being assembled. They are only painted once as the inside can rot from chicken poo eventually- if we subsequently get red mite we use a fine jet steamer to kill them.
The exteriors are painted with Cuprinol 'Shades' which, even in this climate, lasts 5 years. We've been here that long now and repainting is a job for next year.
The exteriors are painted with Cuprinol 'Shades' which, even in this climate, lasts 5 years. We've been here that long now and repainting is a job for next year.
belleisa
Member
Is it def Creosote ?Or Creocoat.
Creocoat can be bought in DIY stores but only farms etc can purchase Creosote.
Creocoat can be bought in DIY stores but only farms etc can purchase Creosote.
RichmondHens
New member
I use real Creosote and neither me or birds have suffered yet! It is the only thing I have found to instantly kill mite and have a long lasting repellant effect afterwards. I also use copious amounts of DE each time I muck out as a belt and braces approach.
As long as it is thoroughly dry when you put birds back in they will be fine.
As long as it is thoroughly dry when you put birds back in they will be fine.
