Up on the Roof!

Here’s our practical guide to the various hen house roofing material options, and the important differences between them.

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The primary function of any chicken house is to provide shelter for the birds inside it. So it stands to reason that an effective roof is an essential requirement, and the material it’s made from – or covered with – plays a vital role in the effectiveness of the whole set-up.

There are both new and old material options and the choice between them depends on a number of factors, including budget, personal preference and convenience.

Felt

Roofing felt is probably the most popular and traditional of hen house roof coverings, and has been used for many years to good effect on chicken houses, other livestock buildings as well as garden sheds etc.

Young and well-fitted roofing felt offers an excellent barrier against the elements as well as a reasonably economic solution, but it’s important to appreciate that this material most definitely has a service life.

You typically buy roofing felt from a farm/builders supply specialist, and it comes in a variety of thicknesses; some of which are very heavy. A visit to your local do-it-yourself store is another option, where you’ll usually find rolls of felt for sale that’ll be suitable for all types of sheds and animal housing. Obviously, though, the cost can vary significantly from outlet to outlet, and area of the country can play a part, too.

You’ll need to measure-up carefully to work out your initial requirements, and take a bit of time with the planning to ensure that you create as few joints as possible when covering a new roof. Joints always present a potential weakness, and a route inside for water if they’re not properly overlapped and sealed.