Chickens and Caulking ?

lighthawk · Dec 4, 2009

I finally took the plunge and registered. Planning to construct a coop this winter so that I can start a small flock in the spring. Coop pages and the coop contest thread have been extremely helpful. One thing I have not seen mentioned anywhere is the use of caulking inside the coop. Is it not reccomended? Will the birds pick at and possibly ingest it? Is there a specific type that should be used inside? The last time I built a shed Caulk hid more mistakes than I dare to mention. Pretty cold here so the coop will have to be insulated and weather tight (except for venting). TIA

patandchickens · Dec 4, 2009

Yup, they eat caulking. It is presumably not particularly good for them, esp. since there is a tendency for the occasional chicken to binge on something really stupid (caulk, styrofoam, hay, whatever) that does not go thru its system well and can interfere with food passage. I would not personally allow exposed caulk around my chcikens.

You CAN use caulk inside of joints (apply before screwing joint together) or behind trim; just make sure to wipe off any that gets squoze out to the outside.

To cover up misfit carpentry (and don't we all do this sometimes?

), battens are always good, esp. if you can disguise them as trim LOL

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

lighthawk · Dec 4, 2009

Thanks Pat. BTW Thank you for all the help you have already provided via your BYC page and your numerous postings in every aspect of raising chickens. Without knowing it I feel your insight and advice to others have set me straight on numerous topics.

CityChook · Dec 4, 2009

from MN!

I can not speak for others here, but I used a fair amount of caulk inside both of the coops that I have built. It was smoothed into the corners to seal everything up prior to painting. I have never seen one of my chickens eat it or even pick at it. But I'm sure they would eat it if they thought of it. They are ding dongs that way. And I'm definitely no expert, but I'm fairly certain that it wouldn't be good for them if they DID eat a fair quantity of it.

I used a silicon, paintable caulk, exterior grade (because of the temperature fluxuations that your coop will endure), readily available at your local hardware store. All corners and seams were caulked and smoothed before priming and painting. I'm not talking about BIG gaps - just seams. So far, so good.

teach1rusl · Dec 4, 2009

We used cheapo quarter round to hide our little defects...

RocketDad · Dec 5, 2009

I put melamine-faced masonite in my coop and caulked all the joints and screws. I slapped the caulk flat (ish) with a trowel to get rid of high spots they might notice and pick at. They haven't messed with it. The masonite covers the foam insulation, and I can hose out my coop when it gets really gross without the framing getting wet.

"Eventually" I'll put quarter round in all the corners.

PineappleMama · Dec 5, 2009

I was wondering about this myself...

Would they bother with silicon, or just white caulk?

Silicon is clear, and if you do the finger rub it's really hard to spot, and is very smooth against the surface.

I was thinking it'd be good for sealing up cracks (to prevent drafts, leaks and poo getting into icky unreachable places) but if they'll pick at it...

Chickens and Caulking ?

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lighthawk

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