SO. MUCH. MUD. Thinking of putting a metal roof on run....

[mag7mm]

Im in northwestern Wisconsin, my run is covered with metal roofing with a six inch pitch and the snow still piles up at times. But it keeps things dry and a lot warmer for the birds. I actually tarp the complete run around the outside to keep snow and wind from entering also. The birds like to lay in there during the nasty days and I keep a door open so if they want they can leave during the day.

 

[WesttexasCorporateService]

I can't take it anymore.... the snow, the mud, the rain, the wet feed, the geese looking like they've applied a mud pack from Sephora.... We're thinking of pulling the black rafters, putting in some cross beans and putting on a metal roof (flat seam panels such as those at Home Depot et al). It will be a flat roof and we are in lower NY so we will have some snow load. Anyone have any advice they'd like to share? The run currently looks like this with HWC and rafters. And mud because its been raining for two days... Thanks BYC community!

View attachment 2023514

What ever the roof, success will depend on if the water has someplace to go. Give water a place to escape TO, and the problem may solve itself. Water will seek the area of least resistance, such as empty space: a few swales directing water to water retention area and the rest of the area may dry on its own.

 

[Double Yolked]

I had the same problem, instead of metal I went with a clear polycarbonate corrugated panel roof, the kind people put over decks and patios to allow light but keep out the rain. It works great. I went with Suntuf as my local big box carried them as their higher end panel. Properly installed they even stand up to an Oregon windstorm. The hens like the extra light as do I. I'd post a photo but it's coming down in buckets right now and I don't feel like getting drenched.

 

[Bob 1313]

One thing to consider if placing a roof above your birds is the type of weather encountered in you region.
We get huge hail storms (1 inch and bigger is not uncommon), that can actually kill/cripple birds and other small animals. The noise under a metal roof is truly deafening. I have been caught out in our barn during these storms and it took days for my hearing to return to normal. Chickens can actually die of fright, and I can't help but think the volume of the noise I have encountered might cause actual harm to them.

 

[Free range Hi.]

What are the dimensions of the run? 4/12 pitch minimum so you don't have to worry about extra butyl taping of seams (water will find its way in). Make sure you put rigid foam insulation or at least plywood down before the steel to mitigate condensation at certain temps and humidity levels. Frame needs to be beefed up with some 4x4s and top/crown plates and I'd use 2x6 rafters with a ridge beam and collar ties. Make sure to have eave overhang all the way around at least a foot.

Do you work for the Gov.? Kind of overkill for a coup roof.

 

[Free range Hi.]

Do you work for the Gov.? Kind of overkill for a coup roof.

As I read through some of these responses I see there is a heavy snow load in this area, so some of these ideas are warranted, obviously the heavier the construction the more expense. A 2/12 pitch is probably too shallow.

 

[Free range Hi.]

And a huge thank you to everyone who responded, it's truly a warm welcome to BYC.

I guess I should introduce ourselves, we are in Southern NY state and have a variety of chickens, runner ducks, welsh harlequin ducks and 2 Sebastopol geese, plus the other critters human and otherwise that live in the house. Two springs ago, I walked into a feed store in early march and brought home 6 chicks and 3 ducklings. We did not have a coop or anything close to it but the next weekend my husband ordered up an excavator and, with the help of our son, put up a coop & run. Since then, we doubled the size of the run and added some small duck coops. We're planning to sell off the small coops and build a second larger chicken coop this spring at the other end of the run so we can have storage and an isolation/new chicken area and give the chickens a bigger space. The ducks and geese crashed their slumber party this winter and they've made it clear they're staying... Stay tuned, I'm sure I'll be back for more of you kind suggestions!

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Wow...what a sweet set up!

 

[MClean417]

Meanwhile, and when it dries up a bit, drainage. Shovel out a 10 foot section of your run, dig a drainage trench, put a covered, drainage tile in and over it up with clean gravel used for drainage, hopefully your run isn't at the bottom of the hill, route your drainage tiles towards the hill bottom and away from your run. cover with 2 inches of the same gravel, cover that with sand. Move over 10 feet and repeat till your done (easier to do at setup). Replace or reinforce your walls to take the snow load and build in the recomended pitch in your area. Surprisngly, your local big box store knows what the pitch needs to be, ask em. Put your roof on and remember to put guttering on your run to move that water away from your run as well. My old coop gets wet from runoff and it takes a while for it to get dry. My new coop might be wet for a day or so but quickly drys out. It gets wet because I haven't got the guttering on it yet or the final drainage tile needed before I build a small retaining wall. The old coop run is made from cattle panels, I just cover those with plastic though I scored some free plastic roofing panels (just like tin roof but plastic) from work and will be putting that over the top. The cattle panels really take a heavy load well. We don't usually get more then 4-6 inches, I haven't seen it deform yet. Here's a link I used to build my new coops run, perhaps it will help https://www.construct101.com/chicken-coop-run-plans-10x8/#comment-51803

 

[BBHF1775]

Since we already bought the pre made runs and had two attached to the coop, the handy man built the roof as free standing, with enough room if we ever decided to take the runs down and redo to fit in to what he built. He said would not be stable enough to add roof to the runs directly (it is one of those Amish made coops). We will be staining it soon and of course can’t wait to have my flowers and herbs planted around. I have a native wisteria planted to train up and over so I might just go with it and leave the original run. Hopefully it won’t look too tacky once stained and flowers and herbs growing

That's going to be gorgeous come summer!

 

[BBHF1775]

I'd do everything up to code for a house! You will be in it, so be safe.
When you decide to enclose it, even on three sides, having something under that metal roof will be good, and retrofitting is always harder.
Mary

Yes, we have definitely learned that site planning is key and retrofitting is a complete pain...