Raising chickens has become quite popular over the years. Those who own chicken coops have debated the best process to clean the interior without damaging the structure.
Chicken owners have confirmed that they clean their chicken coops a few times a month if not once a week. Not only do chickens consistently leave droppings everywhere, but they can track mud and even bugs into their home.
No matter how many times you clean your chicken coop, at least at the bare minimum you will need to hose down and fully clean the interior of the coop once a year.
If you currently own chickens or are new to the game, understanding how to maintain your feathery friends home is extremely important.
This article will explain the importance of waterproofing your chicken coop, how to waterproof your chicken coop and which products to use that are not only safe but also reliable.
Importance of Waterproofing your Chicken Coop
Chickens don’t mind getting wet, in fact many hen owners have stated that their birds love when it rains. But, when your little feathery friends have had enough, ensuring that your hens can head into a warm dry environment is essential.
No matter which type of bedding you choose for your chickens, whether it be straw, wood shavings, chopped cardboard, easichick, aubiose etc. you will need to keep it dry and warm.
Before you can waterproof the inside of the coop there are a couple of preventative measures that can be taken to avoid your hens being exposed to the elements.
When constructing your chicken coop, its important to create a slope so water can be directed away from their nesting area.
Building a coop facing the sun will help keep the hens warm and increase the evaporation of any water found inside their home.
Next, check if the coops windows and doors are sealed properly. This prevents the coop from experiencing unwanted drafts. According to the website Community of Chickens, drafts deprive hens of the natural heat they have generated to keep warm.
It is important to keep in mind, that if air can find its way into your coop, then water will likely find the same path.
The weather can change instantly, that’s why this article has emphasized the importance of a dry, wet free coop.
If your chickens are not comfortable they can become stressed.
Stressed chickens have a higher chance of becoming ill or picking up a disease and infecting the rest of your coop.
If you take these preventative measures, you instantly minimize your maintenance routine. Not only does this provide a warm and proper living space for your hens but it also avoids unnecessary harm to their well-being.
How to Waterproof your Chicken Coop?
When waterproofing the interior of your chicken coop, there are a multitude of ways water can find its way in and out.
Regardless if you bought a pre-made chicken coop or have constructed it yourself you will first need to visually inspect the exterior of the coop to ensure everything is in the right place.
The chicken coop has similar components that your house would. Like the home you live in, the roof, gutters and flooring need to work efficiently. If you do find any leaks in these areas, Liquid Rubber offers two products that provide the ultimate waterproof solution inside and out.
The Liquid Rubber Seam tape will help bridge the seams, joints, cracks and gaps found within the coop.
The Seam Tape provides an extra waterproofing layer for areas that are subjected to movement and most likely to spring a leak.
Once you have applied the Seam Tape, the next step is using the Liquid Rubber Waterproof Sealant. This product comes in a variety of colors allowing you to match the style of the coop.
It is important to build up the layers of the Liquid Rubber Waterproof Sealant, achieving the recommend thickness increases the durability and longevity of the waterproof membrane.
Curing ranges between 6-8 hours per coat depending on temperature and humidity.
These two products can save you time and money while also providing a watertight environment for your hens.
Importance of Building a strong Waterproof Membrane
As discussed in the beginning, keeping your chicken coop clean is extremely essential. Many chicken owners want to use a power washer to clean the interior because it is quick and effective.
The biggest fear is that the strong water will damage the infrastructure. By creating a strong waterproof membrane with products like Liquid Rubber Canada Waterproof Sealant, you will easily be able to clean the interior of your chicken coop, while maintaining the integrity of materials like wood.
How Much Waterproof Sealant is Required?
According to Backyard Chicken, a forum for raising and maintaining hens, the general rule is to allow 4 sq. ft. per chicken. For example, a chicken coop that is 3’ x 4’ is 12 square feet meaning you can keep 3 chickens in that coop.
Depending on how many chickens you have will dictate the amount of square footage required to be waterproofed. Liquid Rubber Canada Waterproof Sealant covers approximately 100 sq.ft./G per coat. Generally, 2-3 heavy coats are used.
Note: Once you decide how much material is required, we recommend using all the Waterproof Sealant that you purchased.
Over time, areas like the nest-box doors and hatches, the coops door and grit holders are likely to experience wear and tear. If there are any areas of your chicken coop that are experiencing a leak, the Liquid Rubber Canada Waterproof Sealant is a great choice to renew and rejuvenate the faulty area.
The Liquid Rubber Waterproof Sealant is an Environmentally Friendly, non-toxic, water-based coating that contains no solvents or VOC’s making it ideal product to use in your chicken coop.
When cleaning any area of your chicken coop, keep in mind you will need to use some form of liquid to help remove any unwanted substances. Taking precaution by properly waterproofing all areas that will experience the elements will help maintain the integrity of the structure and ultimately make your cleaning endeavor easy.
We love to see before and after photos of your project. Have fun and good luck!
You can purchase our products and find more information by visiting our website at https://liquidrubber.ca/
