How to Waterproof a Chicken Coop Using Liquid Rubber

Sep 11, 2018

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.

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 Building a Strong Waterproof Membrane

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.

Chicken Coop Blog- Water Sloping away from Nesting Area- Waterproof Sealant

Building a coop facing the sun will help keep the hens warm and increase the evaporation of any water found inside their home.

Chicken Coop Blog Sun Facing Coop keep warm Waterproof Sealant

Reason 1: Helps Keep Your Chickens Warm

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.

Reason 2: Helps Keep Chickens Dry

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.

Reason 3: Wet, Cold Chickens Are More Stressed

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.

Reason 4: Makes Coop Cleaning Easier

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 Polyurethane Deck Coating, you will easily be able to clean the interior of your chicken coop, while maintaining the integrity of materials like wood.

How to Waterproof Your Chicken Coop

If you currently own chickens or are new to the game, understanding how to maintain your feathery friends home is extremely important. 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.

Step 1: Visual Inspection

First, you'll 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 products to provide the ultimate chicken coop waterproofing solution inside and out.

Step 2: Reinforce Cracks, Gaps and Seams

The Liquid Rubber Seam tape will help bridge the seams, joints, cracks and gaps found within the coop. You can also use our Liquid Rubber Geo-textile Fabric and 3-course method to waterproof a chicken coop. See the application guidelines for the Geo-Textile Fabric to learn more about the 3-course method.

Liquid Rubber Seam Tape applied to Flat Seam

The Seam Tape provides an extra waterproofing layer for areas that are subjected to movement and most likely to spring a leak.

Step 3: Prime the Surface

Once you have applied the Seam Tape, the next step is to prime the surface using our Liquid Rubber Multipurpose Primer.

Step 4: Apply the Waterproof Coating

Top coat the areas with 3-4 coats of our Liquid Rubber Polyurethane Deck Coating. 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 Polyurethane Deck Coating, achieving the recommended thickness increases the durability and longevity of the waterproof membrane.

Step 5: Allow Time for Curing

Curing ranges between 4 to 8 hours per coat depending on temperature and humidity. These products can save you time and money while also providing a watertight environment for your hens. 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.

How Much Deck Coating 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 Polyurethane Deck Coating covers approximately 50 sq ft per gallon final coverage. Generally, 3-4 generous coats are used.

Note: Once you decide how much material is required, we recommend using all the material that you purchased to achieve the proper coverage.

Let's Wrap It Up

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, our Polyurethane Deck Coating is a great choice to renew and rejuvenate the faulty area. The Liquid Rubber Polyurethane Deck Coating is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, water-based coating that contains no solvents or VOC’s making it an ideal product to use in your chicken coop.

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/