Is this enough shelter for a 4-H Meat Goat project?

[MDres]

We are picking up 3 Boer kids on Sunday for our children's 4-H projects. We've made a pen out of cattle panels that measures 16'x22'. Inside the pen is a lean-to made of a tarp, T-posts, and a cattle panel. It's kinda hard to see in the picture. Basically, it has a roof, and a partial side to the east. The north and south are wide open to the wind. The west is sheltered from the wind/rain by the chicken coop and tractor shed. Most of our summer storms/wind come from the west.

The goats will only be with us until the end of September, or earlier. They will be auctioned off at either one of 3 county fairs, or the State Fair, depending on how they place.

Is this shelter sufficient for that period of time? Do I need to enclose another end/side? I do not want to stress the goats with exposure to uncomfortable weather, as I want to maximize their weight gain/condition.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

Nice set up! It looks sufficient to me. If the worst weather will be stopped by the building and they can get out of hot summer sun, I would think it would provide enough shelter. Being made out of a tarp could be problematic if they stand on it....my goats (boer and nigerian) jump/climb on their 7 foot high shelter for fun. RavioliAnna should be around 100 lb right now and she is always tap dancing on top of the house! Or if they decide to try and shred the ends of the tarp......But you may just have to see how it goes. Learn with the curve and adjust from there.

 

[taylorm17]

Our Nigerians don't bother the top of their shed and it is low, It just depends on the goat, so see how it works with your guys. Your shelter looks pretty good! I might have something just on hand to block an empty side just in case the weather gets really bad on you. Just a large wooden panel left over from something would work just to block the wind and rain if needed. It looks good though! Have fun in 4-h!

 

[MDres]

Thanks guys! So far it is working great. It IS open and windy, which is what we want during the summer heat. That wasn't a good thing a few weeks ago - it poured rain, was as windy as a hurricane, and about 35* out. The kids were wet and miserable - even shivering. Thankfully, our horse trailer worked perfectly as a enclosed goat-safe shelter once I saw that this shelter wasn't sufficient. So the plan from here on out is that the kids will go in the horse trailer whenever the weather is too much for the tarp shelter.

The kids have scratched and rubbed on the shelter and it has withstood it so far. They may try to jump on the top as they get bigger, so we'll have to cross that bridge when we get there. We will only have these guys until the end of September at the latest, since they will be sold at the end of whatever fair they place best at. They'll be going to the State Fair in August, and then a county fair each week thru September, if they haven't already been sold.

If this "project" is successful, and we decide to get a pregnant nanny or two, then we plan to build a more permanent and protective shelter.