I have two La Manchas. They are in a 24 x 24 pipe corral which is 6 feet tall. I have a plastic tarp that is attached to one side covering about 24 x 8, used for shade, but do not think it will do much for rain. I know that goats do not like rain so I need to do something for shelter. I can buy a used shade shelter cover 24 x8, but not sure if that would solve the problem of rain. I live in CA so it really does not rain awhole lot, but I still want them to stay dry. Should I also purchase or make a small house for them? I have seen the 3 sided shelter with roofs on craigslist but they seem to be really pricey. What do people use? Help. Any plans for a goat house?
What do you use for shelters for goats? Suggestions Please.
- Thread starter sandy sea
- Start date
DonnaBelle
True BYH Addict
We just got 2 6 mo. old Nubian does. My husband built a small goat house with leftover metal from a job site. It is about 5 ft. by 7 ft. He also put a door on it so we could shut them in at night.
I don't know what kind of predators you have in California, but we have coyotes, skunks, etc. around here, plus rumors of mountain lions and bears. We're not too far from the Wachita Mts. of SE Oklahoma. I figured better safe than sorry.
The shed sits on the dirt, with a little wooden platform down on side to keep them off the ground. I have put wheat straw down over that to keep them warm.
You are right, goats don't like to get wet. I open up their goat house in the morning when I get up, and put them in at dusk each evening.
I've got them right behind the house in a nice large fenced in lot. They are amazing creatures, never had goats before. I'm going to get them bred next fall and try milking them and making some goat cheese. Ah, adventures in agriculture.
DonnaBelle
I don't know what kind of predators you have in California, but we have coyotes, skunks, etc. around here, plus rumors of mountain lions and bears. We're not too far from the Wachita Mts. of SE Oklahoma. I figured better safe than sorry.
The shed sits on the dirt, with a little wooden platform down on side to keep them off the ground. I have put wheat straw down over that to keep them warm.
You are right, goats don't like to get wet. I open up their goat house in the morning when I get up, and put them in at dusk each evening.
I've got them right behind the house in a nice large fenced in lot. They are amazing creatures, never had goats before. I'm going to get them bred next fall and try milking them and making some goat cheese. Ah, adventures in agriculture.
DonnaBelle
daisycullen2003
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i have a dog house igloo for my 2 new miniature goats but they won't go near it! any suggestions or do i need to find something else? they will actually sleep outside at night and stay out in the rain then get in it. i am worried they will get sick.
i hope it's okay to post this question here on this thread because it is related. i am sorry if i should have posted it in a new thread!
we are also in california!
lisa
i hope it's okay to post this question here on this thread because it is related. i am sorry if i should have posted it in a new thread!
we are also in california!
lisa
- Thread starter
- #4
lilhill
Loving the herd life
They will. Just give them a little while to get used to their new surroundings.daisycullen2003 said:
We have a metal barn with wooden stalls for the does. The bucks have a three sided wood shed 10' long x 8' deep x 5' tall in each of their pens. We were lucky and found a saw mill that sold rough oak for $100 a bundle. The bundle had enough lumber to build 5 nice sized sheds.sandy sea said:
Depending on where in California you are, you could use the Canopy's you find at Lowe's and K-Mart. They run around $200.00 and you will need to replace the roof every other year or so (12'x20' tarp-$25.00 or so). They are 10'x20' and with stall mats and T-posts on each leg to keep them from blowing away, they work really well. If you are in an area that has super high winds/snow that probably wouldn't work, but you might try a hoop house-pictures below.
http://goatdairylibrary.org/PDFs/Hoop%2 0panel.pdf
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/poulthous.pdf page 7
http://www.apppa.org/mhpen.pdf pictures on the last page
http://goatdairylibrary.org/PDFs/Hoop%2 0panel.pdf
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/poulthous.pdf page 7
http://www.apppa.org/mhpen.pdf pictures on the last page
