replacing roof on nesting box help!

[HoofyLoo]

The chicken coop we bought off ebay was really on it's last legs. I need to replace the roof that's on the nesting box area. I've got the wood and a big tub of creacote. Do I need to put roof felt on?! Any idea's where I'd get a small amount? Or is there an alternative to protecting the wooden roof?

I do have a massive vinyl banner that I drape over to protect the chooks a little more during heavy downpours...

[MartinRSharpe]

A single sheet of regularly treated wood will last years exposed to the elements assuming it is an appropriate material (e.g. chipboard would not be!, Plywood is).

The only question is, is it water tight without the felt or does it let the rain drip in?

If it is water tight then I would leave the felt off as its one less hiding place for mites.

[HoofyLoo]

It's new fencing panels that will overlap down if that makes sense. I can creocote them.

[Andypandi]

I don't think you should roof felt on it. I have red somewhere that red spider mites live in it and these aren't good for chickens

[kathyd]

Mmm, it apparently harbours red mite so best avoid it if possible. I seem to remember onduline was suggested as an alternative. Or I suppose you could use one of those plastic corrugated sheets? Our chicken coop just has overlapping panels like you describe, no felt on top.. Having said that, the whole thing leaked so badly in so many places, I ended up stapling polythene sheeting all over the place until I got sick of it and we moved it into an outbuilding. I'd creocote the whole thing thoroughly, including the roof, and avoid creating any more layers or joins than you absolutely have to. We've just had red mites for the first time and treated our coop, now I'm busy removing all the old straw, cardboard and everything else that might harbour them, nasty things.

[HoofyLoo]

Thanks for all your help. I'm hoping to make a start on this tomorrow providing we can get the bu run set up (see my other thread!) I'll let you know how I get on.