Helen&Lee Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Definitely give the felt a miss as red mite adore hiding under it. Most people on the P P forum will recommend the old type creosote, which you can't get now. I hate the smell of the stuff and have started using Sadolin Garden Furniture oil on my wooden arks. The pressure treatment your wood has had will make water resistent and prevent the wood from rotting, but wood shrinks when it's hot and dry and swells when it's wet . this makes it prone to cracking, as well as the shrinking causing gaps to appear. The oil I use seems to actually nourish the wood, making the movement between shrink / swell much less. Water also beads off of it rather than soaking in. I did mine this spring and will give them another coat when we have a few dry warm days to prepare it for winter (after our very wet summer). I would recommend using some clear plastic for the roof of the run part, but I also use corrugated plastic sheets as wind / weather breaks on the sides of mine when the weather is foul as rain never falls horizontally! Jools - wise words regarding treatment. It amazes me many on the P P forum use the old creosote - this is still toxic after its dried - I think they use it more as a deterant to Red Mite. If you are thinking of treating your wood again use a Spirit Based Treatment. Normally in a metal tin, it will tell you to wash your brush out with white spirit / detergent after use. These treatments normally tell you them are non-toxic after 24hrs. If the treatment tells you to wash your brush out with water after use its really not much good, better to save your time and your money. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I thought it was now illegal to use creosote ....but I suppose you have to be caught in the act! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 hi everyone, I really appreciate the advice, some of it is very helpful. Just one point, the run has a covered section (the link to a photo of it is earlier in the thread somewhere) so why would I go to the expense of also covering the uncovered part? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 To protect the hens from the rain when they are in the run during the day. I hope you find that helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Looking at the photo, the 'covered area' is still quite exposed. Especially if the rain is coming in from an angle. An small shade would provide extra shelter your girls. Obviously, it depends where you put the run and coop as to how much weather it gets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 To protect the hens from the rain when they are in the run during the day.I hope you find that helpful. but there is already a covered part in the run!? If it rains, surely they'll take shelter under that bit or am I missing something here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Looking at the photo, the 'covered area' is still quite exposed. Especially if the rain is coming in from an angle. An small shade would provide extra shelter your girls. Obviously, it depends where you put the run and coop as to how much weather it gets. the coop is quite big, would they not go in there then if it was that bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Rain doesn't just fall downwards.... it can come at them at 45 degree angles at times and with the best will in the world they are going to get wet. My hens have winter and summer shades and plastic shower curtains ...but there were occasions this summer when they still got wet. I can only offer advice based on my own experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I know rain can come in at an angle, I'm not thick I'm just trying to find out if the chickens will go and find shelter for themselves, they have a lovely big coop to go in if it's really bad or would they not do this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I know rain can come in at an angle, I'm not thick I'm just trying to find out if the chickens will go and find shelter for themselves, they have a lovely big coop to go in if it's really bad or would they not do this? I would never be rude enough to suggest that any fellow forum member is thick! However, hens can be a little bit dim....whilst they might go in and shelter for a while if it was raining, they much prefer to be pottering about and busy outside so would not necessarily stay indoors....especially if it rained for a couple of hours. Why not try without....see how they get on for a week or 2 and then decide if they need a cover over the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 mmmm, good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 does anyone know where to buy plastidip spray? I know it can be bought online but the postage is as much as the spray itself, seems a bit silly to spend so much if it's sold locally - would somewhere like Homebase do it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 I don't have shades for my girls. They will go under the tree, and usually there are several standing forlornly under the Cube. Evil Georgie likes the rain and is quite happy to stand out in it. I think she does it to show the others how hard she is. I would worry more about shade from the sun (some hope this summer). They have feathers, which are designed to keep the rain off, and act like a duvet in the winter when its cold. The heat however would seem to me to be more of a problem. Mine lie in the dust and spread open their feathers - its lovely to watch. But I don't worry about the rain. However I'm sure there are lovely caring people on the forum who go out with a hairdryer after the showers - its just me who doesn't look after his chickens well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 Remember roof felt can be cheap, but it is a nice cover for red mites. I'd recommend getting either a small piece of sheet metal/corrugated plastic and covering the roof with that. It can too also be bought cheaply and you can just attach it to the existent roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 However I'm sure there are lovely caring people on the forum who go out with a hairdryer after the showers - its just me who doesn't look after his chickens well! that made me laugh! I like you Richard. I should think my future ex-batts will love a bit of rain after what they've been thru but bearing in mind they won't be used to it and may not have many feathers I will, of course, be careful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
