I've never had any problems, my horses have been drinking rain water off the roof for years. I wouldn't recommend a person drink it, birds carry some stuff that is nasty to humans.

Kitty

I wouldn't worry about it, if I was you. Our chickens free range - with the 4-H calves who eat grain - in the muddy mucky pasture. If you saw what our chickens foraged for you'd think a little rainwater off of asphalt shingles seems pretty sanitary by comparison.

Aloha Bonzgirl,

It probably depends on the age of the asphalt roof. If you have just installed it, then let it get washed off by a couple heavy rains first. After that, it shouldn't be any problem IMO. Actually, the grit that comes down off the asphalt shingles may help the chickens digest grain?

You could get some sort of a water filter if it worries you, although that seems like an un-necessary step, but I'm not an expert on this stuff. Almost all of the roofs around here are tin so we don't have a lot of experience with asphalt roofing.

A hui hou,
Cathy