Can I use a metal roof with nothing under it for our coop?

[Raen]

Hi chicken-people, I'm new here and new to chickens in general. I thought I'd run my plan by you guys to see what you think.

We're building a 6x7' coop out of used privacy fence panels we found on craigslist ($25 for ten of them! Woo, hoo!). The panels are basically a bunch of 1x4s joined together--they're pretty tight to each other, but there are small cracks (1/8" max) I intend to fill to keep drafts out.

Now, the roof. What I'd like to do is just use metal roofing, the corrugated steel kind over the rafters, with no underlayment. Because that would be cheap ;-). I would leave the rafters open, at least on one end, for ventilation (there will also be two windows). Is this a bad idea for whatever reason? We're in southern Maine, there will be snow, it will be cold. But we intend to only keep extra-cold hardy breeds, like buff ops, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, etc. I'm planning on somewhere between 5 and 10 hens. I do not intend to heat the coop, and plan to do the deep-litter thing.

What do you think? Plain metal roof OK?

Also, filling the cracks in the fence: what to use? I don't want my chickens to peck at it.

Thanks!

 

[jbowyer01]

A metal roof would be fine (but I'm in Georgia) just make sure nothing can get in under the eaves. I would tend to think it would probably be a little harder to keep the coop warm but I've seen lots of coops with tin roofs. I used fence panels also (found for free on craigslist) and we used waterproof caulking but we respaced the panels so there was minimal space. I never had a problem with them pecking at it. Heres a pic of the coop that we used the fencing.

 

[jmagill]

My first coop was like that. Automatic ventilation!

I live in Wyoming and they had no problems during the winter.

 

[SparksNV]

Here's the underside of our metal roof - no insulation - but where those openings are I did cut pieces of 2x4 and wedged them in there. We were getting drafts on top of the chicken roosts.

 

[taprock]

We have a metal roof on our coop. The only problem we have had is condensation. When it is cold out the warmth from the chickens causes condensation which in turn dripped into the coop. I ended up putting foam insulation on the inside to try and prevent the drips. So far so good it has been down to 28 with no problems.

 

[jacyjones]

I would think that condensation would be a problem - but also the noise levels when there is hail or very heavy rain!!

 

[gavinandallison]

I have a metal roof over a flat wood roof, i added height to one side for water run-off and just used one roff of roofing insulation ($12 @ Home Deport) to keep our girls warmer........

 

[patandchickens]

In Maine, you will have chronic condensation/frost/humidity problems unless you insulate the underside of the roof (or unless you have VAST amounts of ventilation, which you will probably choose not to, esp if you are in the colder parts of the state and it is a normal sized backyard coop)

Pat

 

[SparksNV]

didn't think of condensation - I live in Northern Nevada and humidity is just not part of our weather - high desert climate. However, I will watch it and if it becomes a problem I will fix it.

 

[Judy]

My entire coop is made of metal roofing and large areas of hardware cloth. Had condensation once in four years. But I know this would never work in a cold wet climate.

No worries about noise on the roof here. I love to hear rain on the roof, and the chickens have never shown the first sign of being disturbed by it. Just what you're used to, I think.