Why an Onduline Roof?

Onduline Roof Chicken Runs & Animal Enclosures | Built for British Weather

Durable, solid-roofed animal runs designed with British weather and animal welfare in mind.

Whether you are a first-time chicken keeper or have kept poultry for years, choosing the right run is about more than simply providing an enclosed space. Your animals need shelter from the elements, protection from potential contact with wild birds, and a structure built to last.

At Vyse Arks, we build solid roof enclosures for keepers who want a permanent, year round structure they can rely on. A lightweight tarpaulin or plastic cover may seem practical in the short term, but it may not hold up through a British winter โ€” and during an extended avian flu housing order, that matters.

Why Choose a Solid Onduline Roof?

A roof is one of the most important features to consider when buying an outdoor animal enclosure. Onduline roofing offers a durable, weather-resistant covering with properties that make it particularly worth considering for animal housing.

1. Built for British Autumns and Winters

British weather can be challenging for outdoor animal enclosures. Strong winds, persistent rain and falling twigs or branches can damage lightweight coverings.

Onduline roofing is designed for outdoor use and, when correctly installed and secured, provides a durable, solid covering.

Unlike lightweight tarpaulin, it is less susceptible to damage from flying debris when its windy. A properly secured roof also helps reduce the likelihood of the enclosure becoming exposed when the weather deteriorates.

Tarpaulins and makeshift plastic coverings are no match for a British winter. In high winds they lift, tear and fail. In heavy rain they pool, sag and split. When a harsh British winter can last many months, you need a roof that will still be there in the long term and not put your birds at risk.

For keepers who want a permanent outdoor structure rather than a temporary seasonal covering, this is a significant advantage.

2. Helps Reduce Exposure to Wild Bird Droppings

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is an important consideration for poultry keepers in the UK. Wild bird droppings are one of the primary routes through which avian influenza spreads.

A wire-only roof, however strong the mesh, does not prevent droppings from falling through into the run. A solid Onduline roof means nothing comes through from above โ€” reducing one potential route of exposure and meeting what biosecurity during a housing order requires.

During avian flu season, housing orders can be put in place at short notice and can last many months. A solid, permanent roof is the reliable long-term solution โ€” not a tarpaulin that may fail in the early autumn.ย 

A roof is not a substitute for good biosecurity. Keepers should follow all current government guidance, prevent feed and water from attracting wild birds, and comply with any applicable housing or disease-control requirements in their area.

3. Helps Reduce Heat Transfer in Summer

Animal comfort matters throughout the year, not just during winter.

Unlike traditional metal roofing, Onduline is made from bitumen and organic fibres and has relatively low heat conductivity. This helps reduce heat transfer through the roof compared with metal sheets, which can become very hot in direct sunlight and conduct heat into the enclosure below.

Onduline identifies thermal comfort as a benefit of its roofing products for animal shelters and pet homes.ย For chicken, duck, goose and rabbit keepers, this makes Onduline a worthwhile option when choosing a solid roof for an outdoor enclosure.

Good airflow and adequate shade also remain essential during hot weather.

4. A Quieter, More Comfortable Shelter

Heavy rain on a metal roof can create considerable noise. Ondulineโ€™s material properties can help dampen some of the sound associated with rainfall, offering another potential benefit for sheltered animal spaces.

For animals spending much of their time outdoors, a well-designed enclosure should provide protection from the weather while maintaining appropriate ventilation and comfortable conditions.

5. Suitable for Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Quails, Rabbits and Other Pets

Different animals have different needs, but a solid-roofed run can be useful across a range of pet enclosures. Our runs are used by chicken, duck, goose, quail and rabbit keepers across the UK.

Why Choose Vyse Arks?

When comparing animal runs, it is worth looking at longevity.

Consider the roofing material, the dimensions of the timber framing, the quality of the construction, how securely the roof is fixed and whether the enclosure is designed for year-round, long-term outdoor use.

Our runs are used by keepers across the UK โ€” from backyard chicken flocks to smallholdings keeping ducks, geese and quail. We are pet owners ourselves, and the welfare of your animals is at the front of everything we build.

Vyse Arks focuses on solid Onduline-roofed runs and substantial timber framing for keepers looking for a durable, practical enclosure. Our approach is intended for people who want to invest in a long-term, substantial structure that offers more than a lightweight cover and a basic frame.

A Substantial Timber Frame

The quality of an enclosure depends on more than its roof.

Vyse Arks uses milled, smooth 50mm x 38mm* timber for its framing, rather than the 38mm x 38mm* timber used in some alternative designs or smaller housing. This provides a more substantial timber frame and helps create a robust supporting structure when appropriately designed, braced and assembled. This is also important for load bearing when adding a solid secure roof such as Onduline to a walk in run.ย 

We use milled timber for a smoother, premium finish. Combined with suitable roofing and secure fixings, the framing is an important part of building an enclosure intended for outdoor use throughout the year.

Mesh Quality

Mesh quality is where most cheap runs cut corners โ€” and where the consequences can be serious.

We use Italian galvanised welded wire mesh on our enclosures, available in 19-gauge and 16-gauge options including ยพ" x ยพ" and ยฝ" x ยฝ" apertures. Our mesh is sourced from a reputable European manufacturer โ€” because gauge alone does not tell the whole story. The quality of the steel, the integrity of the welds and the consistency of the galvanising all vary significantly between manufacturers.

Standard chicken wire is not predator proof. It is designed to keep birds in, not to keep foxes out. A fox can chew through thin chicken wire, and weak welds fail under pressure. A cheaper run may look similar on a website, but if the mesh is thin, the welds are weak and the frame is undersized, it will fail when it matters most โ€” and the consequences can be heartbreaking.

Mesh specifications vary between models, including 19-gauge and 16-gauge options. Check the individual product details before choosing your run.

What to Look for in a Covered Run

A solid roof provides overhead shelter from rain and helps keep the space beneath it drier. It does not stop wind-driven rain entering through the mesh sides, so the position of your run, ground drainage and access to suitable housing still matter.

A covered run can also help reduce exposure to wild bird droppings from above. It is one part of a wider biosecurity routine, not a guarantee against avian flu or a substitute for checking the current requirements in your area.

If you are comparing covered runs, here is what actually matters:

  • A solid, weatherproof roof โ€” not a tarpaulin. Tarpaulins and makeshift coverings are no match for a British winter. In high winds they lift, tear and fail. In heavy rain they pool, sag and split. When a housing order can last many months, you need a roof that will still be there in the long term.
  • Fully enclosed sides with quality welded wire mesh โ€” not chicken wire, which is designed to keep birds in rather than predators out.
  • A substantial timber frame โ€” the frame carries the roof. Undersized timber flexes, warps and fails. Check the dimensions before you buy.
  • A porch or double-entry system โ€” every time you enter the run to feed or clean, you are a potential vector for contamination. A porch creates a buffer that supports good biosecurity.
  • Properly secured to the ground โ€” pegged into grass, or ideally placed on sleeper edging or a concrete perimeter. A run that can be lifted creates a point of entry for predators and wild birds.

Common Questions

Is an Onduline roof required during a housing order?
Defra housing orders require birds to be kept in a fully enclosed space that prevents contact with wild birds and their droppings. A solid roof prevents droppings from entering the enclosure from above. A wire-only roof does not. We recommend checking the current requirements for your area at gov.uk.

Will a tarpaulin pass a housing order?
A tarpaulin may provide temporary cover, but it is not a permanent, secure structure. In practice, a tarpaulin that lifts, tears or develops a gap is no longer providing the protection a housing order requires. A solid fixed roof is the more reliable long-term solution.

How long do housing orders last?
This varies depending on the situation. The 2022 to 2023 housing order in England ran from November through to May โ€” over six months. Plan for an extended period rather than a short one.

Are your runs suitable for ducks and geese as well as chickens?
Yes. Our runs are used by chicken, duck, goose and quail keepers across the UK. If you keep waterfowl and need specific advice on sizing or access, please get in touch.

Do you offer a bespoke service?
Yes. Email enquiries@vysearks.com with your requirements.

Further Reading

Important: Roofing materials and enclosure construction can help reduce certain risks, but no roof alone can guarantee protection against overheating, severe weather or avian influenza. Correct installation, suitable maintenance, good ventilation, shade, animal husbandry and current biosecurity guidance remain essential.

Free UK Delivery

Our runs include free UK delivery as standard. Exclusions apply โ€” please check your product page for details.

Assembly and Bespoke Options

Our runs are supplied flat-packed with pre-assembled panels, a layout plan, assembly instructions and the necessary fixings. If you need a different size, roof style, an additional door, or a run designed to attach to an existing shed or building, we also offer a bespoke build service.

If you are ordering ahead of avian flu season, we recommend getting in touch early. Lead times vary and demand increases as housing orders approach.

Email enquiries@vysearks.com to discuss your requirements.

Timber frames and welded mesh

Our runs are handcrafted in the UK using FSC approved, sustainably sourced, pressure-treated timber and Italian galvanised welded wire mesh. Mesh specifications vary between models, including 19 gauge and 16 gauge options. Check the individual product details before choosing your run.

Choosing the right size

Consider the number and type of birds you keep, the space available in your garden and how you will access the run for cleaning. Check the dimensions on your chosen product and allow room for doors, existing housing and routine maintenance.

Assembly and bespoke options

Our runs are supplied flat-packed with pre-assembled panels, a layout plan, assembly instructions and the necessary fixings. If you need a different size, roof style or an additional door, we also offer a bespoke build service.ย Email enquiries@vysearks.com to discuss your requirements.

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