Research has shown that hens who can forage outdoors produce eggs that are higher in omega 3 fatty acids vitamin e and beta carotene than hens who spend most of their time indoors.
Roof alternatives chicken run.
The owners added a solar light to illuminate the interior and working with salvaged materials customized the inside with composite flooring diy nesting boxes made from pallets and a loft shelf for storing bales of straw.
Trixie natura flat roof chicken coop 303 99 orig.
Before galvanized roofing became widely available most coops seemed to have either fancy shingle roofs or lowly tar paper roofs.
At our last house we were left with several.
Here s another chicken coop built from a children s playhouse this one from a manufactured kit.
Any kind of real roofing will work fine in a chicken coop.
Raising happy healthy chickens naturally and gardening with chickens lives with her husband on a small hobby farm in maine where she raises a mixed flock of chickens and ducks grows herbs and enjoys cooking using fresh vegetables from her garden and fresh eggs from her coop.
Shingles are the most durable weatherproof material but are more expensive than metal and plastic and harder to install.
The majority of chicken keepers seem to use the static coop and run method but it s probably the most unproductive housing system i ve mentioned.
Industrial netting or the same fencing used for the walls may also be used.
This is probably the easiest least expensive option when it comes to a roof for your chicken run.
If you put a roof over the chicken run it will ensure that conditions inside are dry and clean which should keep sickness at bay.
Plywood covered in a weatherproof material such as metal plastic or shingles is the best option for chicken coop roofing as it offers protection both from predators and the elements.
Trixie brown chicken coop with outdoor run 323 49.
Type of materials for a chicken run roof chicken wire.
Asphalt shingles cedar shakes roll roofing built up roofing etc.
Lisa steele a 5th generation chicken keeper and master gardener and author of the popular books fresh eggs daily.
Doss chicken coop with chicken run 669 99.
Using inferior materials to cap the run may lead to heartbreak as predators ferret out weak spots in the coop.
Corrugated panels can be used to create a fully covered roof.
Duchess door hen house ii chicken coop 419 99.
In many of these situations the housing has a floor and the owner has to muck out the manure regularly.
I ve never built a structure using any of these so i can t provide details.
I have had good luck with metal roofing.