New roof being installed at my house-worry about stress or injury to my birds!

[Mo'sMenagerie]

I currently rent (moving into our own NEW house in December, fingers crossed!). My landlord has decided the house we are in now needs a new roof and a paint job. Well, my coop and run are pretty much directly connected to the house. They already came in and trimmed all the plants back from the side of the house so painters could get to it...and the poor chickens were totally freaked out! In about an hour the roofers will get here and I'm so full of anxiety about how the shingles and nails and noise (OH MY!) are going to stress out my birds. Any thoughts or advice? I've asked the roofers to please watch out for my birds, but who knows if this is even possible...

 

[DobieLover]

I currently rent (moving into our own NEW house in December, fingers crossed!). My landlord has decided the house we are in now needs a new roof and a paint job. Well, my coop and run are pretty much directly connected to the house. They already came in and trimmed all the plants back from the side of the house so painters could get to it...and the poor chickens were totally freaked out! In about an hour the roofers will get here and I'm so full of anxiety about how the shingles and nails and noise (OH MY!) are going to stress out my birds. Any thoughts or advice? I've asked the roofers to please watch out for my birds, but who knows if this is even possible...

I just finished shingling my run roof (28'x14') with my chickens running all around the outside of it and in it without a care in the world. Can you let your flock out of their run and into the yard or will they leave?

 

[Folly's place]

My flock has survived three coop/ run additions over the years, and weren't happy at the time, but did fine. They were able to free range during construction, which does help.
Make sure that they have plenty of fresh water available, in several locations when they are out, and food too. Depending on your set-up, they might be safer in their coop, or outside, during different phases of this (mess!) process.
Mary

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

I just finished shingling my run roof (28'x14') with my chickens running all around the outside of it and in it without a care in the world. Can you let your flock out of their run and into the yard or will they leave?

I live on a pear orchard, so they do get to free range when there has been no chemical spraying recently. It's safe now, so I am letting them free range in hopes they will stay away. In addition to 2 full grown hens and 4 pullets, I have a broody mama with chicks that are 5 weeks old, and they have a chicken tractor in the run where I keep food and water (and shelter) for them separate from the flock. The chicks tend to go there for protection, so I'm considering moving it out into the orchard next to large rose bush they all sometimes congregate under. I just don't want to stress them out more than necessary with unwarranted moving of their home.

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

My flock has survived three coop/ run additions over the years, and weren't happy at the time, but did fine. They were able to free range during construction, which does help.
Make sure that they have plenty of fresh water available, in several locations when they are out, and food too. Depending on your set-up, they might be safer in their coop, or outside, during different phases of this (mess!) process.
Mary

Oh that's good to hear! I will set up extra food and water out further from the house in hopes they will go there to eat. I have two grandpas feeders in the run, so maybe I'll move one of those out into the yard for them while this is going on... Bummer they just started learning how to use it and not be afraid of it. Hope moving it from their comfort zone doesn't mess that up. Thanks for the input and advice!

 

[Folly's place]

You don't want them thirsty or hungry and afraid to come past the mess, so multiple choices help. The hens may also want a nest box out there, or might pick a surprise hidden site!
Mary

 

[SueT]

I think they'll get used to it. My chicks and hens have become fairly bomb proof about various kind of noisy disturbances. They are used to us doing renovations to coop, chainsaw-ing firewood right next to, mowing within inches of them. Yesterday I was adding more rainproofing to the baby chicks' little coop, they just moved into at 3 weeks, lifting off lid, adding panels, using power drill, stapler, hammer etc, and they took it all in stride. The elders don't bat an eye.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I currently rent (moving into our own NEW house in December, fingers crossed!). My landlord has decided the house we are in now needs a new roof and a paint job. Well, my coop and run are pretty much directly connected to the house. They already came in and trimmed all the plants back from the side of the house so painters could get to it...and the poor chickens were totally freaked out! In about an hour the roofers will get here and I'm so full of anxiety about how the shingles and nails and noise (OH MY!) are going to stress out my birds. Any thoughts or advice? I've asked the roofers to please watch out for my birds, but who knows if this is even possible...

I don’t envy you all the noise. There are contractors that have been working on the lot next to my neighbor. First they cleared an old mobile home and most of the trees and are nearly (thank goodness) finished with building a new house. This has been going on for 3 months. And yes it stressed out the chickens and my rooster was crowing almost non-stop all day. Since the super heavy machinery is mostly gone, the chickens have calmed down. Or maybe they’re just used to it. Your chickens will likely be stressed as well as you, but it’s only temporary. Make sure the yard is cleaned really well. Roofers leave a tremendous amount of debris.

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

I think they'll get used to it. My chicks and hens have become fairly bomb proof about various kind of noisy disturbances. They are used to us doing renovations to coop, chainsaw-ing firewood right next to, mowing within inches of them. Yesterday I was adding more rainproofing to the baby chicks' little coop, they just moved into at 3 weeks, lifting off lid, adding panels, using power drill, stapler, hammer etc, and they took it all in stride. The elders don't bat an eye.

That's good to hear The roofers are here and the chickens have already run out into the orchard (further than I've seen them go before) clucking and making a commotion. I put food and water in a couple places not too far away from the house. I may need to put it out even further. Man o man, did I pick a doozy of a day to take off work The noise is insane!

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

I don’t envy you all the noise. There are contractors that have been working on the lot next to my neighbor. First they cleared an old mobile home and most of the trees and are nearly (thank goodness) finished with building a new house. This has been going on for 3 months. And yes it stressed out the chickens and my rooster was crowing almost non-stop all day. Since the super heavy machinery is mostly gone, the chickens have calmed down. Or maybe they’re just used to it. Your chickens will likely be stressed as well as you, but it’s only temporary. Make sure the yard is cleaned really well. Roofers leave a tremendous amount of debris.

3 months! Yowzer! I bet having your roo crowing all the time helped them speed up the process a bit Glad most of the super heavy machinery has gone...

I will be cleaning up as much as I can as soon as they leave for the day.