If you could find say Vic ash hardwood and oil it with a vegetable based oil it will be fine. Might be a bit exxy though in the sizes you’d want to use. Maybe if you have access to a table saw you can buy KD framing timber and rip to desired sizes.
Thanks Jpez. Is Vic Ash pricey once you get to longer lengths? The coop design I'm looking at copying is only about 4 foot x 4 foot and 2 foot high. I have some F17 hardwood laying around that might be up to the task? Is linseed oil suitable for outdoor use?
Both really. Don't want to encourage termites and don't want to have to rebuild it every year from falling apart.
F17 is perfect. Only mentioned Vic ash as it comes in a variety of sizes you’d likely need for a chicken coop. linseed oil would work well.
I like this idea. Steel is also good.
Why keep the mice out, it's pretty much Russian roulette for any mouse that gets in ours if the chooks are awake!
Haha, true - but they do get in at night which means either the food gets nibbled away or it sets the chooks off.
Fair call, pellets are cheap and they're far enough from the house I don't hear them. They go batshit crazy when they get a live one tho!
Yep that’s the beauty of custom work. Make it however you like. In this case the final resting place is against a wall. Full dowels at the rear would not allow a backing sheet to be attached and with this design it needed the bracing of the backing sheet and for crap to not fall off the back. But believe me. I spent way too many hours mocking up different versions. This won out for practically, sitting hard against the wall and the bracing/backing sheet. and the client liked it.
