[henny penny]

We just took delivery of a nice new chicken ark for my daughter's little hens to live in. But hubby says the wood needs treating. Any suggestions about what the best substance to use might be?

I've been around for a while but can't remember if I have posted on "Chooks" before, so, by way of introduction, I have Arthur (big cockerel) with his harem of 7 including 3 hybrids, a couple of homebred crossbreeds, 1 old Welsummer and 1 old Buff Orpington. We also have a Welsummer cockerel (on his own).
Imogen, who is 7, has a Welsummer hen,  a cream legbar and a Dutch fresian bantam. We hatched all those ourselves last year.
Today I got 4 new ISA Warrens who came free with the chicken ark. They look a bit shell shocked right now but hopefully they will get used to us in a few days.
We mostly do eggs but are not averse to eating the odd cockerel as we hatch a clutch of eggs every year and it's a shame to waste them!

[Aunt Sally]

Sounds like you have a lovely flock there HP.  I don't know much about wooden hen houses but I do know not to treat the inside.  Someone else will answer your question soon I'm sure  

[Fenland Girl]

We used Cuprinol on ours, inside and out, as it's apparently safe for chickens. But I am sure I remember Munty advised not to treat the inside at all but to put Vaseline on it  :?

[henny penny]

Why the Vaseline?

[Bodger]

I've got some of the old fashioned carcinogenic creosote stored away. Its still the best. cough cough

[mercury]

I've got some of the old fashioned carcinogenic creosote stored away. Its still the best. cough cough

Me too bodger, bye bye redmite    

[Aunt Sally]

:roll: But what would you recommend for Henny Penny to use, I'm sure she won't have old fashioned creosote  :!:

[Lost in France]

I used Sadolin woodstain, it is hard wearing and the henhouse I used it on looks super! It's not cheap but you can get small tins and it looks so good it's worth it! I have another henhouse that was made by MOH and the wood was already pressure treated so I just painted the outside with a brown woodstain. Like Aunt Sally, I too leave the insides unpainted.

Creosote is horrid, hope you don't use it...there are lots of kinder ways to ditch the red mites etc! You never know if those chemicals sneak into you through those eggs you collect each day!

Good luck!

Judi

[Fenland Girl]

Why the Vaseline?

 :?: I think it must either have been to keep out drafts or smother mites etc. I've probably completely mis-remembered this anyway!

[babe]

i used cuprinol on the outside. vaseline in all the nooks and crannies, prevents mites.

[Aunt Sally]

I'd prefere to use Diatom on the inside.  Vasseline is very gunky.