madelynmccabe's Thread: Lets See Everyone's Herd Houses!

[frustratedearthmother]

But I have to ask, how do you keep the goats from banging the heck out of it.

I was concerned about that before I had it built. I thought I'd have to line the bottom 4 feet with heavy duty plywood. But, it has not even been a concern. I've got mini-horses, pigs, standard size Nubians and pygmy goats that all use it and there has not been a problem.

I did upgrade to the heavier framework and tie downs, but the sheet metal is just whatever is standard for this type of building.

 

[Baymule]

In 2012, I lost all my senses and ordered ducks. I wanted to raise Pekins for the freezer.
Pekins never sleep.
Pekins never shut up.
Pekins quack all night long.
Pekins, at least mine, never liked me.
Pekins, again-mine, were hysterical.
Pekins, mine, were MUCH better in the freezer!

I needed a shelter for them, so I laid a pallet over 4 plastic milk crates and stapled opened up plastic feed sacks over it. It worked splendidly.

 

[NH homesteader]

I just sold the last of my ducks. They were so annoying. Cute but annoying. I didn't realize how much of the noise on our farm was quaking ducks until they left. No more ducks for me!

 

[babsbag]

My ducks are about 6 months old, they live a few hundred feet away and I love listening to them, but there are only 4. Had 5 but one disappeared.

My goats slam each other into the wood pony walls of the barn all of the time, the tin would never work without lining it with plywood.

 

[Baymule]

I built a hoop coop using cow panels. They were about $20 each and I used two. Lumber came off the cull rack at Lowes, treated too! I bought the hinges to hang the door and the little door handle and hasp. The rabbit wire (for cage bottoms) I traded for a couple of jars of home made pickles. The corrugated tin came from a pile that I have scrapped from various places. In the last picture, look inside closely and you can see the 1x4 slats that I screwed into to hold the tin in place. I had to buy the screws, used the leftovers on the Hawg Hut. Already had the OSB plywood, it came from the cull rack at Lowes too. I just love reject lumber!

 

[NH homesteader]

Love that coop idea! Stupid NH winters.... But gave me an idea for our turkey tractor! They don't live long enough to see snow fly.

 

[Latestarter]

Actually, Beekissed has one in West VA, and has posted pics of it buried in snow and her birds do just fine. Just fill it full of dead leaves and the decomposition will generate a little heat and the birds will be fine.

 

[Baymule]

If you get real heavy snows, just run a 2x6 down the middle of the top for extra support. Usually on a 2-cow panel, it's not necessary. On longer spans of cow panels, a support beam works just fine. Go ahead and build one, they're great and mine only took a few days to put together.

 

[Mini Horses]

I've used similar but, not so fancy Couple boards at side, T-Posts thru bottom hole on a panel (6 posts for 2 panels, 3 on each side. Tarp over top and down sides. tied on with baling twine....open both ends. Purpose was for quick shade in a field with no barn, or hay shelter so animals could eat, spare rain on hay, etc. 2 hrs tops. Moveable. I've had some last a couple years, then the tarps shred -- replace tarp. can cover on end if you just need a FAST shelter for a while.

Bay's is designed to last longer, ward off visitors to birds. Luv the "economy" panels...

 

[babsbag]

@Baymule @Mini Horses Those of you that have built these hoop houses can you give me some dimensions for the base? I need mine straight enough on the sides so that the goats don't try and climb it. My bucks will be using one for shelter this winter, tarp covered.