Chicken Coop Roofing Guide
There are so many different roofing options for chicken coops and runs, it can be difficult to choose the best one for you. From weather protection to keeping predators such as foxes at bay, the roofing material you choose for your chicken coop will play a vital role in keeping your hens safe and happy. In this guide, we’re going to talk through some of the most popular ways to cover a chicken coop.
Table of Contents
- Do You Need a Roof on Your Chicken Run?
- What Makes a Good Chicken Coop Roof?
- Best Materials for a Chicken Coop Roof
- Which Material is Best for Keeping Your Chicken Coop Roof Waterproof?
- What Roof Pitch Is Right for a Chicken Coop?
- Which Roofing Material Is Cheapest For a Chicken Coop Roof?
Do You Need a Roof on Your Chicken Run?
Yes, a chicken run needs a roof to keep your hens inside, and protect them from predators, and the elements. Chickens need an outdoor space to move around in, but it’s vital to enclose this for their safety.
Predators will not be deterred for long by an open roof, or even simple materials such as mesh netting. A roof over your chicken run will also prevent escapes. Don’t forget, chickens have been known to clear fences as high as four feet tall! A roof over their heads will also provide much-needed shade in the summer, as well as protection from the cold, wind, and rain.
What Makes a Good Chicken Coop Roof?
You’ll want your chicken coop’s roof to have the following qualities:
- Strength
- Reliability
- Weather Protection
- Long life
Strength, because your chicken coop’s new roof will receive a battering across its lifetime, and it needs to withstand the elements.
Reliability and long life, because you don’t want to have to repair or replace your chicken coop’s roof every six months.
And weather protection, because your chickens need to be kept safe in a coop that is warm, dry, and ideal for laying eggs!
Best Materials for a Chicken Coop Roof
Whether you’ve got a round chicken coop roof, or a flat-roofed chicken run, we’ve got top-quality roofing materials for you.
Metal Roofing Sheets
Metal roofing is incredibly popular amongst homeowners for a wide variety of DIY roofing projects. Made from tough galvanised steel, these sheets offer fantastic strength and weather resistance, which makes them ideal for protecting a chicken coop. These sheets can however suffer from condensation, particularly in the winter. Therefore, we’d recommend utilising a breathable membrane or plywood base when installing these sheets.
Bitumen Roofing Sheets
Bitumen roofing are perhaps the most popular roofing material for garden buildings. Lightweight, sturdy, and starting at just £5 per square metre, bitumen roofing sheets are a fantastic all-rounder at a great price. What’s more, these sheets only require simple tools for installation, meaning they can be fit by even an inexperienced DIYer. You’ll also have a great choice of colours when shopping for bitumen sheets, so you can choose the sheet that’s perfect for you.
Plastic Roofing Sheets
Plastic roofing has a number of advantages for chicken coops. A highly cost-effective roofing option, there are few materials more affordable than corrugated plastic roofing. The second option you have is polycarbonate sheets, which is a more durable, yet slightly pricier plastic roofing sheet. Both of these materials boast solid performance with minimal maintenance required, however they do not share the same durability as metal roof sheets.
Felt Shingles
Felt shingles set themselves apart from other pitched chicken coop roof options with the unparalleled range of styles, shapes, and colours available. For the homeowner looking to create a beautifully aesthetic chicken coop roof, felt shingles are the ideal choice. They’re also lightweight and simple to install, making them perfect for a DIYer working on their own project. What’s more, felt roofing shingles can offer up to 20 years maintenance-free life.
Self-Adhesive Felt
Available in a number of colours and finishes, self-adhesive roofing felt is a simple, low-cost option for chicken coops with a flat roof. A felt roof is very easy to install yourself, and will simply need to be rolled onto the roof and given time to adhere. As well as its low initial price point, a felt roof is cheap and easy to maintain and repair. Keep in mind however that felt is not as durable as other roofing materials, and will require more frequent upkeep.
Living Roof
Green roofs (also known as living roofs) are becoming increasingly popular for garden buildings. Along with their unique natural aesthetic, these roofs also help to keep the space below warm, ideal for a chicken coop. A living roof will also improve the internal air quality inside your chicken coop, as harmful substances are drawn out by the plant matter. The main drawbacks of living roofs are their initial cost and trickier installation, which you’ll need to budget and account for when planning.
Which Material is Best for Keeping Your Chicken Coop Roof Waterproof?
All of the roofing materials we supply will keep the inside of your chicken coop nice and dry all year round. The best material for a weatherproof chicken house has to be corrugated metal. Corrugated metal sheets will drain away any rainfall with ease and are highly unlikely to be damaged in a storm or by hail stones. Lightweight yet incredibly strong, these roofing sheets are the ideal choice for many garden buildings, and chicken coops are no exception.
What Roof Pitch Is Right for a Chicken Coop?
We’d recommend a roof pitch of at least 4:12 (18.5°) for a chicken coop. Flat roof chicken coops are one option however these do not provide as much space as pitched coops. Another advantage of choosing a pitched roof for your coop is how easily it will shed water, preventing pooling and other issues which can lead to dreaded roof leaks.
Learn more: How to Calculate Roof Pitch.
Which Roofing Material Is Cheapest For a Chicken Coop Roof?
If you’re looking for cheap roofing for your chicken coop, we’d suggest shed felt. This form of roofing felt is designed especially for lightweight garden buildings such as chicken coops, runs, and garden sheds. Rolled out and stuck to the roof just like self-adhesive felt, you couldn’t ask for a quicker, easier, or cheaper option for your chicken coop roof.
