Solitary chicken - need advice

[Purplemaniacs]

Morning all, we had a thunderstorm yesterday that has ripped off some of the roofing panels on the wooden WIR.

 

OH is now thinking of putting a wooden roof on top with felt, will this make it too dark? Or will enough light get in through the sides. He has never been particularly happy with the roof.

 

Any ideas would be good, the WIR is great but the roofing now needs sorting

 

The poor girls are sheltering at the end that still has a roof and they are paddling in mud and it is chucking it down again.

 

Chrissie

[Choo-chook]

My WIR is built with corrugated sheets of onduline/coroline (which I don't think I'd recommend, mainly because it has a strong odour to it). I did notice a big difference when the roof went on, (it felt very enclosed), although my run is built against a shed which obv cuts down on the light coming through. But actually lighting levels are fine, I have clear tarps on two sides and one has a blue one but still it's fine even on these gloomy days. I'm hoping the roof makes it cooler in the summer...if we get one!

My plan was to put a clear corrugated roof on (or even just replace a couple of panels with clear) but if the smell does eventually go then I prob won't bother as it does seem very sturdy and secure).

I think I would go for a wooden roof if I was you, as the benefits prob outweigh the issue of it being a bit gloomier.

Nicky

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've got a clear roof and it does make things a bit lighter on dull days (although over time it becomes a bit dirty and less clear.

 

I have mine screwed down really well with a couple of batons on top too, as we get pretty severe winds here. It's stayed in place - so far!

[Claireabella]

We used to have clear corrugated panels on the roof (they're round the bottom of the run now!) but when it got windy they used to constantly blow off into the next street! Last winter when it got really cold we ended up putting the cube into the shed as I was constantly fretting about the girls being too cold. We then decided to build the run coming off the shed and went for a wooden roof with felt. I too was worried about light levels so we put in a large polycarbonate roofing sheet and this really improved the light levels.

 

This is what we ended up with

 

 

It's really solid and has withstood all of the wind and rain this year with no felt blowing off at all. It looks like the roof dips a bit where the polycarb panel is but that's where my OH cut the felt wonky (I can't moan too much though he has put up with me wanting to change the chicken accommodation several times ). It doesn't look great with all the plastic sheeting nailed to it at the moment and it really needs a fresh coat of paint but I would have that wooden roof any day compared to how many times the plastic sheeting used to blow off before!

[Purplemaniacs]

Thanks for your replies. Lots to consider.

 

The roof is now fixed short term but OH thinks we need to replace it all in the spring, hopefully it will be ok until then.

 

I will have a look at the onduline I also like the idea of some clear panels if we do have a wooden roof.

 

Chrissie

[Luvachicken]

Just beware of acorns or any other tree missiles if you go for the plastic corrugated roof - mine has been ruined by acorns

[Ain't Nobody Here]

And don't use a rake to clear snow off it either .

[The Dogmother]

It depends on how much light comes in the sides of your run as to whether the run is transparent for opaque; generally, they need as much light as possible.

 

Personally I'd avoid wood and felt as it will be a magnet for red mites, which will hibernate under the felt.

[Claireabella]

Would that apply with the cube inside the shed/ run too? I've never had red mite and always dismantle the cube to jetwash once a week, checking under racks etc. but I don't like the thought that they could be hibernating under the felt.

 

Sorry Purplemaniacs, don't want to high-jack your thread

[Claireabella]

Ok, just read the sticky on red mites. That's answered my question I was scratching just reading it

[Purplemaniacs]

Thanks DM I wasn't keen on the idea and now I have told OH NO!!!

 

I like the corrugated roofing that we have now, I think we need a stronger version or more roof supports or both.

 

Chrissie

[The Dogmother]

If you want something stronger, try the polycarbonate that they use to make conservatory roofs.