The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Young Ed on August 26, 2014, 09:40:15 am
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right i have decided i really do need to build proper housing for my sheep
i am thinking of trying to make a multi purpose unit where it would be one large open front house for most of the year but then i would have a divider that could slide in to split it into 2 separate pens and then doors that i can just drop onto hinges on either end so that for lambing i could split it into 2 pens and put 1 ewe and her lambs into each pen and then just drop the door on to shut them in
does this sound feasible? any other features i should try to add? i was thinking if fitting either 1 or 2 bolt in eyes like these for lifting with a tractor loader
(http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/50502904/Eye_Bolts.jpg)
what should i make the roof out of? steel corrugated sheet or marine plywood covered with roofing felt? and the sides/walls? T&G, weather boarding, what else?
it will be a basic softwood frame construction clad with either T&G or weather boarding as suggested unless you lot come up with something better
Cheers Ed
P.S oh and if it is of any relevance i was thinking of a single pitch roof
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Yorkshire boarding defo. Just be careful with your pens that they have slatted sides n slatted door, obvs with lamb proof gaps but so plenty of air flow. I wouldn't have them all solid personally x
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I'd have the bottom part solid and the top slatted.
A basic three sides and divide with hurdles as you need to. Make sure it's multiples of 6' to fit hurdles.
And twice the size you think you need now. ;)
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I am also looking to do something similar.
Following a recent fox vs chicken incident, it has got me thinking- should the lambing pens be 'fox-proof'. The shelter I am hoping to build is slightly away from the house, in the same field from which the fox took the chickens :thinking:
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(http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y402/thebushcrafter99/Edssheephouse_zps642767c6.jpg)
a rough plan for an end frame
i would make 2 of these and then connect them with timbers running the length of the building and then clad and roof it
does it look big enough and suitable? all measurements in mm BTW
Cheers Ed
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just spotted a error on my half!
1000mm up to cross beam and then 500m from cross beam to top of roof so bringing the front of the building up to 1500mm in total
Cheers Ed
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Yorkshire cladding, horizontal or vertical?
t&g or weather board? or is it simply a case of price?
Cheers Ed
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If this is for lambing you'll need to be able to stand in it. Unless my conversion is wrong that looks very low.
Can't do mm.
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1500 is 5ft, i think i'd want 6ft minimum so i could hide from the bad weather as well!!!
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Consider onduline for the roof. A good cheap material which will last for years if fitted well. Also a good bit quieter in rain / hail than steel or hard plastic. It's very easy to work with as well.
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height is ok for what i need it for as it it more of a shelter for sheep more than anything and any tending to sheep or mucking out etc i can do on my knees as that is what i am used to anyway. i don't want it too high anyway as i need to be able to lift it with the tractor loader
just had a look at onduline but can't find it anywhere closer than about 115 miles from me :(
Cheers Ed
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Onduline is a brand of "bituminous corrugated roofing material" - try searching for that ;)
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awesome thanks @sallyintnorth
is this the sort of stuff?
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Black-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950x2000mm/p/240039 (http://www.wickes.co.uk/Black-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950x2000mm/p/240039)
Cheers Ed
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does this stuff not stand up to the elements or sun as well?
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-PVCu-Clear-Corrugated-Sheet-660x3000mm/p/240154 (http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-PVCu-Clear-Corrugated-Sheet-660x3000mm/p/240154)
any other reason i can't use that?
Cheers Ed
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A metre high at the front.. that's low even for crawling into. And under 5 foot deep, possibly less if that's an external measure.
I'd suggest you pop along to some garden centre or large B&Q and look at some kennels, garden sheds etc with a tape measure in your pocket to get a realistic idea of sizes.
There's usually a need to get into these things at some stage for repairs or cleaning
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PVC stuff tends to crack if branches drop on it..or you get heavy handed with your loader.
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awesome thanks @sallyintnorth
is this the sort of stuff?
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Black-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950x2000mm/p/240039 (http://www.wickes.co.uk/Black-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950x2000mm/p/240039)
Cheers Ed
Wickes is the only DIY retailer currently selling this professional quality BBA approved Onduline roofing system
• B&Q only sell the Coroline 2.6mm thick DIY grade sheet, as opposed to the Wickes Onduline manufactured professional grade 3mm thick sheet
So, yes :)
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A metre high at the front.. that's low even for crawling into. And under 5 foot deep, possibly less if that's an external measure.
I'd suggest you pop along to some garden centre or large B&Q and look at some kennels, garden sheds etc with a tape measure in your pocket to get a realistic idea of sizes.
There's usually a need to get into these things at some stage for repairs or cleaning
sorry i but that measurment wrong when i added it in MS paint, it should have been 1.5 m
would say 2m at the front and 1.5 at the back be better?
awesome thanks @sallyintnorth
is this the sort of stuff?
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Black-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950x2000mm/p/240039 (http://www.wickes.co.uk/Black-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950x2000mm/p/240039)
Cheers Ed
Wickes is the only DIY retailer currently selling this professional quality BBA approved Onduline roofing system
• B&Q only sell the Coroline 2.6mm thick DIY grade sheet, as opposed to the Wickes Onduline manufactured professional grade 3mm thick sheet
So, yes :)
thanks! :thumbsup:
PVC stuff tends to crack if branches drop on it..or you get heavy handed with your loader.
i'm not known to have hands careful enough for brain surgery so knowing me i would end up throwing a massive metal hook or something else on it!
Cheers Ed
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sorry i but that measurment wrong when i added it in MS paint, it should have been 1.5 m
would say 2m at the front and 1.5 at the back be better?
Way more realistic :)
I knocked up a field shelter for my few pet sheep..out of stuff lying around. You'ld never move it mind... left over electricity poles which are thicker than telegraph ones and some tin sheets left over from another project plus a few more second hand ones to finish. And scrap timbers for cross bracing. 12 foot long to match the roof sheets and sloping from about 8.5 feet down to seven feet. Mosty because I'm over 6 foot 7 and got a dud back so bending isn't an easy option. the sheets stop about 6-8 inches above ground so plenty ventilation through there and the entry opening. It's really only in case of a heavy snow-fall nd i built the roof to take the weight of a lot more than a foot of snow on top (if my 18 stone can walk on it...)
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fair enough, i'm about 5' 11" or so i think so not quite a giant like yourself and my bodies already creaking at the grand old age of 15! but i can still stoop and am quite happy to work in sheep s**t on my hands and knees :P
Cheers Ed