Grow Your Own Magazine

I was told that you're supposed to paint inside the hen-house with creosote, to stop red mit and also protect the wood....

Problem is you can't get creosote anywhere anymore...

What can I use instead?

Can you just use normal fence/shed woodstain, providing it was animal friendly?

Thanks!

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

What about Ecos organic paint? It doesn't have any toxic ingredients (apparently it's safe enough to eat but I wouldn't recommend it!) and it's cheaper than lots of other brands.

Any child friendly, pet safe wood preservative such as Cuprinol should be fine - it won't stop mites though!

Creosote was wonderful stuff - that's why it got banned!

Problem with creosote is that it's toxic, as we know - and that is the reason it killed the mites. Unfortunately it affects hens (and people) too. Some people have used exterior gloss paint on the inside of their coops, which makes it harder for the mites to find places to hide and also makes the coop easier to disinfect. It's a deterrant rather than a preventative though. Poultry Shield is supposed to be a good anti-mite disinfectant.

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Dwell simply ~ love richly

Chickens won't go into a house that has been treated with Cuprinol(and who can blame them!)
I always wait until eggs have been laid then close the pop-hole and open the back and spray with a cat flea spray.Leave the house closed for an hour,then open the back to air.
Only cat flea-spray should be used,dog's would be far too toxic.