Aww thank you! The feeling is mutual, everyone has been really nice here and I truly appreciate all the feedback.
LOVE the idea of an "entrance" and "exit" into the milking area through different doors to keep everyone in line/ in order.
I'm sketching out a new plan now, will get it uploaded...
^I've got my eyes on 4ft goat fence with fixed knots at each crossing.
Also maybe a strand of barbed wire along the bottom and top to stop some predation (hopefully)--we already have a huge roll so not biggie to add it.
oh also the fence we're looking at comes in rolls of 330ft so now I'm thinking we push it back into the woods another 50 feet making it 100ftx50ft, with about half in the woods. I just feel like if we already have the material, might as well use it. It'll be extra wood for posts though but might...
I don't know that I can write "Thank you" enough times, but you can at least add one more to the total. I am just so appreciative of y'alls help and advice.
Ok first of all, I was hit hard with "duck math" when we got our first ducks (we started with 50 and ended up somewhere around 80+)...and...
I'm thinking maybe we bump the sides out to be 6x6 ft for each stall...so if I can't talk the Mr into a larger barn, I could still do 3 stalls at that size with the current plan. But I'll be literally back to the drawing board and maybe looking into some schematics online for plans of some a...
I’ll try to have a more thoughtful response later to the replies (thank you!) but the garage is open, think more a walled-in car port and it is concrete. There is a hose/water hook up inside the garage so I can very easily spray the area down, sweeping up poop first then hosing down any urine...
Just to explain the sketch a touch...the idea was side by side stalls that had walls that are removable. The communal space outside the stalls is about 6x18ft. Then off to the side, which is what hubby said to cut off, is the feed room that would have a space large enough for a round bale plus...
Not 12x8, 12x18…but even so, I see everyone’s point! And it’s funny because I’d already been having these same debates with hubby, haha. Actually the original plan was 12x24 and hubby said he thinks that’s too big (that was to also hold the round bale). I’ll attach a picture of the original...
No, I don’t “have” to buy rounds and they aren’t my preference, but they are substantially cheaper. A stored round bale here is about $50. Square bales are about $7 each. If I buy in bulk I might be able to get that down to $5 or $6 a bale.
So after walking around our property where we’re thinking of putting the barn, what we’re tentatively planning is a 12ftx18ft barn with four 6x4 foot stalls (with modular/removable walls between them). The plan is to have a door on either end. It will open to a 50ftX50ft fenced in area. I’ll try...
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Baymule does that philosophy come with a story?? :P
thanks for giving me some things to consider! I'm going to have to make some sketches and get y'alls opinions.
Ha hah Alaskan...there's a story there...
We had a barn cat. His name was Hyzer. He was super friendly and sweet...
alas, the garage will mostly have tools and our wood storage. Although we still have a whole shed converted into a coop that we could either put some tools in or the hay...our problem is we currently have straw in our shed (with the birds) on a shelf but mice and rats have been getting into it...
"I’ll take the hits, I’ll take the hurt, so I can have the joys. The joys far outweigh the hurts."
I love this; isn't it so applicable to life in general? And so true.
Construction on the goat barn starts as soon as I come up with a plan.
So here I am with more questions....
What are some...
I'm terrified to buy from auction lol
I'm lucky that I have a few local Mini Nubian breeders around here that are very knowledgable, kind, and open to visits and questions, etc. That's who I want to purchase from for my first goats. I already have feelers out for doe/kid pairs this spring :P...
thank you again everyone. Wow these responses are so insightful and thoughtful that I'm actually getting misty-eyed over here!
I have been doing a ton of research (hopefully that's obvious by now) but hadn't thought about what to do with goats/kids that had issues, but not necessarily in need...
ok another question (below the rant)....
I am spooked by all the medical stuff. I obviously want to be prepared, I try to deal with many things myself first before going to "experts" especially with my animals....but I am so afraid I'm about to sign up for a bunch of dead goats and vet bills...