Roof Advice Needed

[KatieSwindler]

Should I use a clear roof on my coop?

I’m in Chicago. I’m building a coop in an extremely shady corner of my yard. The design I’m using has both the coop and the run under a single pergola-style roof.

(Hobbit chickens!!)

Here is the work in progress of the coop. As you can see it sits DIRECTLY under a maple tree and is surrounded by buildings so it is very shady. we put the roof up next weekend (assuming the weather holds! )

I’m pretty sure I want to have a clear roof on the run but I’m unsure if I should paint the clear panels for the coop or even put up plywood underneath for additional shade.

Thoughts?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh, yay! Your Hobbit coop is coming along! Exciting!!!!!

I don't honestly know. I couldn't use a clear roof here because we have hot summers, and it'd turn into an oven, even if it had a shade tree! The only other hang up would be how dark you want it in there. I like it dark because it keeps my rooster quieter - haha! But you don't have that issue, either.

I guess it cones down to temps for you. It'll have a greenhouse effect.

 

[swamphiker]

I love your miniature coop model!

Is there a benefit to using a clear roof over opaque roofing materials? It wouldn't take much sun at all for clear roofing material to turn the inside of the coop into a greenhouse (hence why that material is used for greenhouses).

 

[Joyfillednomads]

Should I use a clear roof on my coop?

I’m in Chicago. I’m building a coop in an extremely shady corner of my yard. The design I’m using has both the coop and the run under a single pergola-style roof.
View attachment 2890825
(Hobbit chickens!!)

Here is the work in progress of the coop. As you can see it sits DIRECTLY under a maple tree and is surrounded by buildings so it is very shady. we put the roof up next weekend (assuming the weather holds! )

View attachment 2890828

I’m pretty sure I want to have a clear roof on the run but I’m unsure if I should paint the clear panels for the coop or even put up plywood underneath for additional shade.

Thoughts?

If you use the plastic panels, use one over coop and one over run, if you have more add on run side.
I like keeping the hens in our coop till later in the morning, this keeps them from getting up at dawn and going bananas too early.

 

[ChickenLeg]

I think clear roofs are an awesome option, only advice is to get a material that will last. I bought the clear panels from lowes and they started cracking and deteriorating from sun damage in less than 3 years

 

[MadGardener]

I have a garden shed with a 12" wide clear panel. The light is great, but it does increase heat in the summer. Even just a strip lets in more light than I'd expect.

DH constructed a simple chicken shelter/supplement station with roost. It has a clear panel on it now, but we plan to swap it out for summer, then back to clear in the winter.

I don't think it would be too much of a pain to undo if you find it gets too hot. Or just do a portion of the roof clear, then throw a tarp over in July. If you won't have power in the coop it's really worth considering for the light IMO.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Idea: Attach clear roof to coop, create an additional false roof with zinc roofing and 2x4's that you can attach over the clear, permanent coop roof on a 'need' basis (can attach it with simple slide bolts).
When you want sunshine in the coop, remove the extra roof. When you need an extra sturdy roof that can hold up to snow, put the extra top on.
If using corrugated zinc roofing, make sure the channels direct the snow to slide to the back (non-door-side) of the coop so that you don't bury your girls in or find yourself forced to shovel them out. You might consider pouring concrete or installing some sort of drainage system along the back of the coop as well, as regardless of what sort of roofing you install, it will direct rain and snow there. The extra roof can be used in the hottest and coldest months of the year to form a pocket of air that will serve as insulation against temperature extremes.

 

[Joyfillednomads]

Should I use a clear roof on my coop?

I’m in Chicago. I’m building a coop in an extremely shady corner of my yard. The design I’m using has both the coop and the run under a single pergola-style roof.
View attachment 2890825
(Hobbit chickens!!)

Here is the work in progress of the coop. As you can see it sits DIRECTLY under a maple tree and is surrounded by buildings so it is very shady. we put the roof up next weekend (assuming the weather holds! )

View attachment 2890828

I’m pretty sure I want to have a clear roof on the run but I’m unsure if I should paint the clear panels for the coop or even put up plywood underneath for additional shade.

Thoughts?

Clear panels on some of the sections maybe. The plastic doesn't age as well as tin or aluminum.

 

[KatieSwindler]

I have a garden shed with a 12" wide clear panel. The light is great, but it does increase heat in the summer. Even just a strip lets in more light than I'd expect.

DH constructed a simple chicken shelter/supplement station with roost. It has a clear panel on it now, but we plan to swap it out for summer, then back to clear in the winter.

I don't think it would be too much of a pain to undo if you find it gets too hot. Or just do a portion of the roof clear, then throw a tarp over in July. If you won't have power in the coop it's really worth considering for the light IMO.

The light especially in winter was my main thought for why we’d go clear. Maybe a removable summer shade solution is the way to go.

 

[aart]

The light especially in winter was my main thought for why we’d go clear. Maybe a removable summer shade solution is the way to go.

Yeppers.