Solid Surface Roof on Run? Pros and Cons?

[Cattle dog Mom]

Hello from the Sandhills!

Our current build is for an open-air coop -- a roofed run with shelter at one end.

We're roofing the entire thing for three reasons:

1. It's easier to handle pieces of metal roofing than pieces of hardware cloth when working on a walk-in coop's roof.

2. There is no natural shade in this portion of the yard and the trees we will plant will take a bit to grow up.

3. DH believes that he can put up the metal roof faster than he can install hardware cloth.

We chose metal because it's faster, because the current prices make it cheaper than plywood and shingles, because the Ondura roof of a existing structure we had to dismantle was in very poor condition after no more than a decade, and because DH isn't impressed with the quality of the PVC panels -- fearing that they'll be easily punctured by debris (did we have 4 hurricanes or 5 last year? I lost count. ).

He is NOT wrong!!!!!

 

[Victoriaelizibeth]

Dear Chicken Experts,

My flock of five girls (born August 2020) needs a chicken run. The hawks are visiting daily and I lost my sweetest Buff, Charlotte, last week. (We also have fox, raccoon and possum.) I am often in the garden, but not always. They are used to free ranging in our little quarter of acre back yard, so the run will be an adjustment. I bought an Omelet movable fencing pen but they fly out or squirm under, and obviously there's no protection from the sky predators.

I've read through tons of threads about runs on here. This community is amazing! Taken lots and lots of notes.

I am debating whether to put a solid surface roof on my run? I live in Charlotte, NC, where winters are mild and summers are HOT. I think the girls would really enjoy sleeping safely under the stars. Coop is 4 feet x 8 feet and partially shaded from the afternoon sun, but not totally. The coop is elevated, so there is a shaded "run" portion under the coop, but it is small. I have enough room for about 7 feet by 10 feet extension off to the side. I am leaning towards a hardware cloth roof.

Can y'all give me your expert opinions on solid surface versus hardware cloth?

Thank you! Yours, Melinda

hardware cloth is more breath

 

[tapoodle]

I live in Fla. My daytime run is 10'x10', pvc and hardware cloth, under trees with wire roof, partially covered by metal. I decided I wanted more protection and for wire only part and picked up some white, plastic lattice work fence panels. Sturdy enough looking to discourage hawks but reflects light, provides partial shade. Inexpensive as well.

 

[BPChickenFarmer]

Roof to protect from rain and sun would be my advice. Remember there's nothing madder then a wet hen.

 

[tigger19687]

tin roof, rusted.

B52's

 

[The Chicken Gardener]

Wanted to share my 2 cents though looks like you’ve already received some great feedback. We live in a suburban residential area, our coop/run is located under our deck. (Walk out ranch so not a ground level deck) Even with being under the deck, we still put a full roof across the run. Plywood and then ice & water shield. Will shingle it this summer. I find I love having it fully covered. No worries about predators. No muddy/wet run. Disclaimer- my husband is a builder so that kept our cost down. But I’m a big fan of a covered run!!

 

[mtillitski]

My run is a repurposed chainlink dog pen. I so have a solid roof over it which was worth the investment. It keeps the run dry. Before I had it built, the mud would suck my boot off during periods of heavy rain. Hope that helps.

Oh, that helps. Boot sucking mud is what I want to avoid! Metal roof.

Many want the hens to 'sleep in the open as they would like it' but reality is they will be eaten if not houses securely.
Get a coop and lock them in at night...

As for the Run, I had a big 10'x20' fabric carport that I put wire all around to secure them. Summer I had bird netting over the top and winter I put the carport plastic fabric cover on .
Summer time I also tossed over a Shade cloth over the bird netting on the 1/2 attached to the run. This gives them shade and a sunny side for sun bathing..... which will make you think your bird is dead and go running out there only to have them POP up when you touch them. That was my 1st heart attack I ever had with hens LOL

Thank you! I've had the sun-bathing heart attack, and the heart-attack over what looked to be a giant, featherless sore that turned out to be an ear lobe. I never expected to love them so much.

 

[mtillitski]

Yup, the cheapest thing about chickens is ... the price of the chicks.

Sell hubby on the savings you'll get on compost! Chicken poop is garden GOLD.

Definitely using all the poop! And I make a yummy quiche every Sunday. Need to conquer creme brûlée's. Key to my husband heart is through his stomach! I keep rambling about the nutritional value of the eggs, too.

 

[mtillitski]

Wanted to share my 2 cents though looks like you’ve already received some great feedback. We live in a suburban residential area, our coop/run is located under our deck. (Walk out ranch so not a ground level deck) Even with being under the deck, we still put a full roof across the run. Plywood and then ice & water shield. Will shingle it this summer. I find I love having it fully covered. No worries about predators. No muddy/wet run. Disclaimer- my husband is a builder so that kept our cost down. But I’m a big fan of a covered run!!

Thank you! Going with a solid surface metal roof. Feedback was pretty resounding in favor of a cover.

Also, we had one sunny 78 degree day this week and all of them curled up in the shadow of the house. Between the mud (definitely want to avoid) and the heat, seems roof is the way to go.

 

[3KillerBs]

Definitely using all the poop! And I make a yummy quiche every Sunday. Need to conquer creme brûlée's. Key to my husband heart is through his stomach! I keep rambling about the nutritional value of the eggs, too.

You have never truly eaten poached eggs until you have eaten them made from today's eggs.