An un-usual question?

Hopefully read by bee keepers or nest makers.

I want to make some bumble bee boxes for our local childrens nursery to sell at their Fayre to enhance their funding. Can chipboard be used to make the boxes and to protect, painted on out side with stone paint. Normal preservatives would kill the bee's.
I have may sheets of scrap chipboard. Wanted to use pine timber but cost over rides the affordable selling price. Many thanks robertwhiting76athotmail.com
change....at..... to normal email symbol.