4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Amy83]

Hiya,

I'm going to build my first chicken run in the xmas hols... very exciting... but i am using a hand me down chicken house.

 

The house has been in my families orchard for as long as i can remember, we used to play in it as kids!! As you can imagine it needs a bit of tarting up.

 

Most of the wood is sound (with the exception of the floor maybe but i can sort that) but i would like to treat it before i use it. Can i just use any old creasote (sp??) substitute or do i need to get an animal friendly one??

 

Also the roof of the house is made of aspestos, it seems sound enough and isnt crumbling or anything so i was just gonna leave it... what do you reckon??

 

Amy

[Egluntyne]

Welcome to the forum.

 

I would err on the side of caution and use pet friendly products....unless you are going to treat it and then leave it for a couple of weeks for the fumes to settle down.

 

Re the Asbestos.....I'd be inclined to replace it, for your own safety as well as that of the hens. It depends what type it is I suppose.

[Amy83]

Thanks for that, agree re the asbestos, will have to try and sind a suitable alternative!

 

Next question, where would i find an animal safe wood preserve? Can you recommend any brands?

[Egluntyne]

I've noticed them in B&Q. Can't remember the brand name though, sorry.

[Jules.]

I used cuprinol 5 year stuff.

Wasn't cheap at about £20 for 5 litres.

[chickenanne]

Re: the roof - onduline is best, as it doesn't give nooks and crannies for red mite and is watertight.

[Alfred]

I think asbestos is fine as long as you don't mess with it, it's the dust cased by removal that causes a problem. We have it on our carport roof. If you do take it off you might be best to wear the right protective kit.

[Plum]

Dont take the asbestos off yourself, you can really put yourself at risk. Get advice from environmental health. Sorry but it is dangerous stuff if you inhale it.

[Guest]

Ooooo Asbestos is nasty stuff!!

 

I used to work for a trade union and we dealt with hundreds of Asbestos related compensation claims over the years. You need a license to remove and dispose of it. Don't take any chances - contact your council and ask if they have a list of approved companies who can deal with it! All kinds are deadly - it used to be thought that some were worse than others - but all are banned now in the UK and Europe.

 

Onduline would be a good replacement for the roof!!

 

Happy building!

 

Louise

[Happy chickens!]

Sorry, but you're confusing blue and white asbestos!

 

Blue asbestos is very nasty stuff, lethal if inhaled causing lung diseases.

 

White asbestos has been bonded with cement and does not cause asbestosis etc. It is still sensible to take precautions if drilling etc, as with any dusty substance, but the kind of tiles used for heat insulation are pretty inert and can carry on doing their job.

 

I'm no expert, but follow this link to the Telegraph for more info:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/3313214/Asbestos---the-most-expensive-word-in-history.html

 

Good luck with the new chicken home!

[Plum]

Sorry never knew that. Take back previous comments, sounds like its ok to leave.

[wombatally]

I use cuprinol's garden shades and they have lovely colours. Not had any problems with the chooks apart from when I was painting and put the brush down, greedy Hob"Ooops, word censored!" grabbed the brush and ran off with it. Because my girls can't stand missing out on something they all ran over to her and promptly got covered in purple paint, It has taken until the moult for them to return to their true colours