Why are most barns painted red?

[bif]

I heard an explanation a few years back but forgot it. Anyone know?

[HopeHoops]

1. So cows won't see them and walk smack into the side of them.

There isn't that much in the way of entertainment on most farms. Cows smashing into the barn is considered humor.

[Heidi]

2. To attract bulls to the barnyard.

There isn't that much in the way of entertainment on most farms, as the previous poster has noted.

[Kali]

3. I alway heard it was iron oxide - rust

cheap and works as a wood preservative.

[bif]

4. Thanks

That's the explanation I remember.

[MajorChode]

8. That's probably the best explanation

Prior to 100 years ago, paint was very expensive. Many people could not afford to paint their homes and linseed oil was the best preservative they had. Filed rust would have been reasonably available from blacksmith shops and could be added to linseed oil to increase the preservative effect. After pigmented paints became widely available, it was probably just the fashionable thing to stay with red.

[WolverineDG]

9. same reason schoolhouses were red nt

[Haole Girl]

5. Found this using google:

http://people.howstuffworks.com/question635.htm

[northernlights]

6. to hide the dirt?

every speck stands out on white...

[Silver Swan]

7. I grew up on a farm

And our barn was red.

My mother told me that white barns and gray barns were for rich people.

[One_Life_To_Give]

10. Not where I grew up

Tobacco barns in north central connecticut had the look of unfinished weathered wood. Now this might of had something to do with the annual firing of the shed to cure the tobacco I suppose. But whatever the reason I don't remember ever working in a red shed.

[baldguy]

11. I seem to remember being told that iron oxide paint lasted the longest.

[madinmaryland]

12. So that you can see the Mail Pouch Tobacco ads

:shrug:

[petronius]

13. Because America's agriculturalists are just a bunch of ranting commies

:shrug:

[femmocrat]

14. To ward off evil spirits.

Oh, wait.. that's hex signs, I think.

[bluedigger]

15. I remember being told (years ago)

that ox-blood and milk were mixed to create a cheap paint. Seems reasonable.

[Stardust]

18. That's what I heard, too. Blood and skim milk, to be exact

Skim milk used to be considered expendable. Bet those old barns smelled ripe in the sun.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

16. Cheapest paint

most farmers weren't/aren't exactly rolling in dough

[sarge43]

17. I heard that the red paint sold a hundred plus years ago was the cheapest. n/t

[realisticphish]

19. not around here

well, where I grew up. Black and brown, mostly. A lot of white as well. Honestly only a few red ones :shrug: