After all, it’s what protects your chickens from the elements. When it comes to chicken coops, the roof is one of the most important parts. Best Roofing Materials For A Chicken Run Roof Doing this gives the chickens a dry area for rainy days but still allows sunlight into the run – very important for Vitamin D production and drying out mud. Build a run with a section of a solid roof and a section of chicken wire or shade cloth. In my experience, the best roof is a hybrid. This roof has the added advantage of capturing rainwater if you attach a gutter and downspout. However, if you intend for the roof to keep the floor of the chicken run dry, it is best to build a solid roof that slopes so it can shed water. If the chicken run is already under cover from the elements (such as under a tree) and the only purpose of the roof is to keep chickens in and predators out, you can use chicken wire. Unlike a chicken coop roof, a chicken run does not need to have a solid roof. If you have the space and budget this can be an ideal set up Does A Chicken Run Need A Solid Roof? Raccoons, skunks, and weasels, are great climbers so a run without a roof is simply asking for an attack. Without a roof, aerial predators like hawks or owls can easily swoop down and grab a chicken from the run. Does A Chicken Run Need a Roof Reason #3: Protect your chickens from (some) predatorsĪn even greater problem with not putting a roof on a chicken run is that potential predators can easily get in.

Even during a blizzard, this type of roof was able to protect the chickens from the snow. When we built our coop, we strapped a few sheets of corrugated metal to the coop’s roof, which worked very well to protect it from inclement weather. Having a covered run is the best way to protect chickens from high winds and heavy rains. You do not want your chickens shuffling around in a slushy run every time there is a storm and if you live in a colder climate I consider a roof absolutely necessary. If it rains or snows, and your chicken run has an earthen floor, it will quickly turn into a muddy mess.

Trying to catch them and put them back into their enclosure is not a pleasant experience! Protect Your Chickens From The WeatherĪnother practical reason to put a roof on a chicken run is to protect your birds from foul weather. However, there is always the risk that your chickens can escape their run. The main reasons your chicken run needs a roof are: Stop Escape ArtistsĬhickens are flightless for the most part and are unlikely to jump out of their run, especially if their wings are clipped. There are a few reasons why having a chicken run with a cover is advantageous. It is possible to keep chickens inside a run without a proper roof but putting a roof on a chicken run is strongly advised. There are loads of different ways to build a chicken run so read on as I cover the options.

Your chickens will be much safer and happier in a run that is fully enclosed. By leaving the roof open you give easy access to animals such as eagles and raccoons and to the hot sun and pouring rain. The two main reasons are protection against the weather and protection from predators. Naturally, you want to give your backyard flock the best possible home, and you want to protect them as best you can and may be wondering does a chicken run need a roof?

Chicken run roof