[HeatherB]

To deter red mite, having decided to try a plastic shed for chickens which did not work as well as expected I talked hubby into building me a new Coop which he has creosoted with good old carcogenic stuff a retired gamekeeper had.  The problem is it stinks to high heaven and it’s not assembled yet!  Now wondering if done the wrong thing as surely the smell is going to affect the chickens? Any advice anyone ? ?

[twizzel]

You need to wait until the smell has gone before you put them in. We creosoted our house when we built it and probably left it empty with the doors open for 2 weeks before putting chickens inside. 4 years on it is still going strong 

[Anke]

Same here - ours are creosoted and it lasts for years.... never had red mite since! But you need to let it dry out, the smell will fade with time.

[chrismahon]

Drying time is very much dependant on the weather and air flow- could be two weeks or two months. Very important it is dry though and you won't know until the doors are closed and the sun has been on it- shouldn't smell badly enough for you not to be able to breath it. Best to leave it disassembled as it will dry quicker. Don't creosote the perch tops- just the ends and bottom. Good to have the perches sitting in hangars so they can removed quickly for inspection, as that's where the red mite first appear.


I dilute creosote 50:50 with paraffin. It dries much faster and soaks in better without any effect on the anti-red mite properties.


Experience has shown me that it only works for a year. Problem is once you have hens you will need a spare coop to reapply the creosote and let it dry. Red mite normally arrive with new hens, so if you add to the flock that's when to expect problems.

[Part time dabbler]

I have four coops but only use two at a time, when I swop them over I dismantle them and creosote them and leave them in the garage until they are needed to swop with one that has been used

[HeatherB]

Thanks all for your advice.  Coop has been drying now for about a week with doors open.  Am putting plastic perches in but really hope smell goes soon