[Casey76]

OK... plans going full steam ahead for my beautiful new chicken coop.

I would like to paint the finished article to it doesn't stand out quite so much (like my rather ginger-coloured coop currently does).

I'll be using pine tasseaux and plywood sheeting (if all goes to plan!), roofed with onduline.  So how can a make the wood weatherproof and still be animal friendly at the same time?

[poultrygeist]

What's pine tasseaux ? 

Paint wise, anything water based should be fine, as long as you give it time to air out thoroughly. Something equivalent to cuprinol for sheds, etc.

Photos in the Chicken Chat when ready please 

Rob

[tode]

Go for a "Peinture bois neuf, extérieur"   You can buy "Lasure", which is more of a stain, lets the grain show through, but I think a paint will protect the plywood better.
You should find quite a large choice. I like dark green or dark brick red, but the colour's a VERY personal thing 

More and more paints are water-besed now, but if you can find oil-based (dilution with white-sprit), then it will imo protect better.

Good luck

[Casey76]

Sorry Rob, mixing my languages again, it happens quite a lot, expeically if I learn the French before the English!

Tasseaux (or a tasseau) is what you would call a length of wood - in this instance 44 x 27mm (life was so much simpler when you could buy a length of 2 by 4 without any of these multitude of mm!)

[hillfooter]

I've used Cuprinol TimberCare (http://www.cuprinol.co.uk/products/timbercare_overview.jsp) which is claimed to be pet safe. It's quick and easy to  apply with a brush, dries quickly, and comes in several colours.  I always treat my houses twice a year, once all over the externior in spring and the second application to the roof only prior to winter around now (in fact just done it).  I don't paint the interior.  No rubbing down is required to refresh.

I wouldn't recommend an oil based exterior gloss/semi-gloss paint which may look nice when first applied to new wood but requires primer/ undercoat and two top coats, is much less easy to apply, tends to go brittle and flake off and requires a lot of work to rub down and repaint.  The chickens tend to chip it it off with their claws or by pecking once it starts to go brittle.  The water based preservatives such as the Cuprinol one are far more practical for your housing.

Best wishes

[grumpydad]

i used one of the cuprinol "ducks back" water based treatments, with added wax, makes it waterproof, easy to use, and pet friendly

[Knight Family]

I just used water based fence paint and all have been fine. Going to rebuild mine post house move and use the same water based fence paints.