What would you recommend for painting a hay box?

[diddy]

Evening all,

Just smartening up the yard for winter over here! Have painted the gates etc. with creosote & would like to paint my homemade hayboxes so they don't look quite so shabby. They're only made out of pallets but I thought a coat of paint would help them blend in a bit with everything else (I know - clearly have too much time on my hands!) As the boxes are touching the hay (obviously!), I assume I shouldn't do them with creosote or even a creosote substitute as I understand creocote etc. is toxic too? So what would you suggest that would be similar colour-wise but not poison the ponies? Was thinking maybe Sadolin in ebony but thought I'd ask before I spend any money

Thank you
D. x

 

[Enfys]

Stain it, with the same stuff you would use on a wooden stable.

 

[WelshD]

Look for a water based stain

Much of the Cuprinol range is pet friendly

 

[Tnavas]

Did you check to see what the preservative is in the pallet itself - as some of them are quite nasty. If it is one that has no preservative then I'd just replace it if its looking shabby, the nails fall out and some are quite small. The ones I had my wood stored on last year outside, died a saggy death the second winter.

 

[glamourpuss]

Bird Brand Shed & Fence Paint. This link is the price for several buckets of it, I did what I needed with 1 that cost me £5 from my local Builders merchants. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-Brand-Shed-Fence-Protection/dp/B005HHUDRG

Comes in several colours, easy least to apply, great finish & completely non toxic 😊

 

[ester]

Look for a water based stain

Much of the Cuprinol range is pet friendly

I used cuprinol garden shades for my guinea pigs!

 

[diddy]

Thanks for suggestions everyone - have googled your ideas & am looking forward to having the snazziest hay feeder in the county! x