By Request- The Warming Barrel!- pics have been uploaded.

[jodief100]

Hubby made the warming barrel. First he cut the bottom off a 55 gallon plastic drum. Mine was food grade, used once. I scrubbed it a lot but it still smells like apples.

Then he cut the little door in the side.

Inside the top he installed an electrical box and cheap light fixture. He put a piece of 2 x 4 on the outside on top and screwed the fixture through the barrel into that.

Then he hardwired the box to an electrical cord using a romex fitting. Well, he hardwired it first and then installed it in the barrel. He tells me the most difficult part is reaching all the way down into the barrel to screw he fixture in.
Picture in the top on the inside.

He said if he had to buy everything it would have been about $4.00, plus the barrel. He scrounged most of it.

 

[ksalvagno]

This is great. Thanks!

 

[Our7Wonders]

Very nice!! Is it pretty sturdy in and of itself or do you have to secure it down? I like this idea alot! thanks for sharing!

 

[jodief100]

Very nice!! Is it pretty sturdy in and of itself or do you have to secure it down? I like this idea alot! thanks for sharing!

It would stay upright all by itself if the big goats didn't knock it around. I have it tied to the wall on short cords on two sides.

I have seen 8 kids in there at once. They get in an snuggle. It stays real warm.

 

[Our7Wonders]

I really, really like this idea, especially if we end up bottle feeding the babies. Thanks - great idea!!

 

[AkTomboy]

great idea thank you for the pictures

 

[msjuris]

That is awesome. Thanks for posting this.

 

[julieq]

A breeder I know locally had her husband build a bunch of these out of wood, poor guy! They're really nice, but these plastic barrels make so much more sense as they are lighter weight and can be cleaned so easily. Thanks so much for sharing the photos!

 

[Lady Jane]

That looks like an awesome idea. Thanks for sharing. I had been worried about keeping the kids warm if they are born this winter. This would be a good addition to the barn.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]