Creosote - have I made a mistake?

[chris]

I've just creosoted the inside of the bike shed I'm converting into a coop. i've then just added a new floor in (chipboard flooring used in houses) - sealed with silicone. I've not yet creosoted this yet, should I leave it?

Reason I'm asking is I've just read about creosote tainting eggs if they lay on the floor directly?

I am planning on raising the platform for the nestboxes, so it's off the floor (as the shed is old -want to do as much as poss to keep damp out).

I also creosoted it because even after pressure washing it, there was still loads of woodlice (can chicken eat them ok btw?), and other lice in all the nooks and crannies. I've literally liberally coated *all* of the inside, bar this new flooring (which sits on top of the old flooring)...

TIA!

[rustylady]

Where on earth did you get Creosote Chris - I though it had been banned. There is another product Creocote which is supposed to be less toxic.

[zazen999]

Ditto

[Suechooks]

In reply to your question Chris I would creosote/creocote both the old floor and the new floor and also put some red mite powder in between before you seal the joins with silicone sealer otherwise the red mite will get between the floors.
Once the creocote is dry it won't taint the eggs - all my floors are liberally done with it.

[chris]

Sorry it is creocote- my phone auto corrects spelling..

What about the perches? When I used to keep large birds before, they'd chew the perches - the bottle still says it's toxic and harmful to the environment. I've already done it, but can make another if need be.

Only asking as when I look at pics of the inside of peoples coops, they don't look all dark brown like mine!

Thanks!

[Scarlet]

Where on earth did you get Creosote Chris - I though it had been banned. There is another product Creocote which is supposed to be less toxic.

Farmers have an agricultural licence and are able to get the real thing but it's nasty stuff!

[Bigmallly]

There's a snippet here Chris which suggests removing perches before treating.

Little Chicken Coop | Keeping a beady eye on the world of chickens

[chris]

Thanks BM.. have searched around and have found conflicting information. Even a couple of posts here mention that people have creosoted/creocoted the perches...

Kinda thinking maybe this shed conversion lark was a bad idea :S

[Glutton4...]

They'll be fine! Put a thin layer of bedding/paper on the floor, to make cleaning out easier. Make sure there's plenty of things to keep your Chooks occupied; greens, feed, water, climbing frame, grit, grass, soil. They'll only peck at the wood if there's nothing else to eat.

[chris]

So, the creocoted perch is safe for them to roost on?

Do they play with balls? I've a ball pit for the little one - thought about chucking a few balls in the run...

Also, I'm planning on putting the run on soil, then a tunnel type thing to link it to the coop - do I need to rake over the soil in the run? I don't want it a permenant fixture there, so can't really slab it over. They'll only be in the run two days in the week for a few months until one of us is at home all the time - then they'll roam the garden during the day.

[Glutton4...]

If the creocote is dry, I'd say they'll be fine. I don't know about balls, but could be worth a try. Suspend them on a string, so they'll peck at them. You won't need to rake the ground - they'll enjoy doing that for you!

[chris]

Oh yeah, I dont think the coop / run will be ready for another week at least yet... which means I may not even be able to get them until the spring at this rate! (one from local to me shut on the 25th!)

[RichmondHens]

As others have said, as long as the creocote is dry then it will be ok. In any case, if you have creocoted now, and you do not get the birds until the Spring, then the house will be just fine for the birds to go straight into.

[jessmorris]

So, the creocoted perch is safe for them to roost on?

Do they play with balls? I've a ball pit for the little one - thought about chucking a few balls in the run...

Put a hen swing in - they'll love it! My pekins took to one immediately, I put one up for the big girls last night and I saw them eyeing it up already first thing this morning! And yes, they will swing on it! Bizarre I know!
JM

PS mine are just a thick branch tied on with jute twine, but you may need something tougher for bigger birds.......................

[chris]

Thanks.. though knowing me, I'll probably replace the perch just to be sure Then try and get everythign else finished off so we can get them asap! hehe