| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Aunt Em |
Posted - Mar 09 2008 : 9:04:47 PM
I really, really want to get started with goats, and maybe a sheep or 2 as well. What do I need as far as housing goes? My hubby is pretty handy, and is willing to build me whatever, but we can't spend a ton either. Can I get away with a dirt floor or will we need concrete? I'm hoping to eventually milk them, so I'll want a space for that in there. And, will the sheep and goats get along ok? thanks in advance!
Farmgirl Sister #138 |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Mar 10 2008 : 10:23:51 PM
I have always kept my sheep and goats together..one thing to remember is that copper is toxic to sheep and alot of things you may give goats will have it..so you have to separate them or something to give them calf manna and some other supplements. (I give calf manna along with grain at milking with any dairy animals..sort of a vitamin thing..)
I have had alot of different housing for my sheep and goats but right now have metal port-a-huts. I LOVE them. This was my 4th winter since getting them. they are deep and the goats and sheep can get way inside out of the wind and rain...and they have a vent you can open at the back top when it is hot.They look neat and last really well. They are not terribly expensive. I wish I remembered exactly HOW expensive, but not bad. They are light enough for two people to move for cleaning once or twice a year. I can crawl inside with lambing ewes or kidding goats, but they are not tall enough to walk inside...very cozy. They are the size made for pigs if I remember right.
I store all my feed in metal garbage cans inside my little milk barn.
when I had wooden goat/sheep sheds I never had a concrete floor...always dirt...bedded with straw. My milk barn has a wood floor with rubber mats now, but I have milked even outside (for years actually) and that works too.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| La Patite Ferme |
Posted - Mar 10 2008 : 9:29:09 PM
Ditto to Sue's comments. Also, depending on how many sheep/goats you have and the time they will be lambing/kidding make sure you have enough space to put jugs together so mom and baby(s) can be seperated from the rest. Also, would suggest having enough space to store feed inside - nothing worse than slogging through rain to get feed.
We have a 12' x 24' barn for DD's market lambs and chicks, and I can see that working nicely for a few does and ewes. It has an east facing door that leds to the corral and a 12' x 5' inside area. The feed storage/equip area is about 10' x 12' and the chick coop takes up the rest. If I EVER get the pics on my cell phone to my 'puter I'll post them.
There are several really good small flock books that have sections on housing or you can google sheep housing and go from there. I wanted mine to be cute so I got some really good ideas from Small Barn and Shed building books at Home Depot.
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| Alee |
Posted - Mar 10 2008 : 5:32:37 PM
Here are some links for you!
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/shelters_gwmf.shtml
http://www.motesclearcreekfarms.com/asp/articles/Shelters.asp
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/housing.html
http://acidnineonline.com/mngoats.com/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=49&Itemid=23
http://www.goatwisdom.com/ch9husbandry/shelter.html
My friends at the ranch built a simple shed like building about 20x20 ft with a peaked roof. They have a small 5x5 section within the main shed that is fenced off for babies (the bottle raise the babies as they use the goats for dairy), and they have a 7 foot long build in manger and a hay storage area behind the manger with a swing door that grants human only access to the hay. They have a few light bulbs in their for warmth, and built it so humans can stand easily but the ceiling isn't much higher. The floor is earth and so is easily cleaned out.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| artbysue |
Posted - Mar 10 2008 : 4:09:11 PM
A dirt floor with bedding is better than concrete unless you use a rubber mat over the concrete. Sheep and goats will do fine together. Make sure the barn is in a place that drains well and slightly higher than the surrounding area so you don't get run off into the barn or have the barn in a low spot.
They don't need anything fancy but you want to make sure you have room for feed and hay storage and an extra pen for lambing/kidding in case momma and babies need to be alone to bond.
artist, equine portraits, animal art, farms, barns, Amish art, fiber animal art
www.suesteiner.com www.amish-art.com
www.amulti-coloredlife.blogspot.com |
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