The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: KJ on September 01, 2010, 07:39:10 pm
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How is everyone housing there goats, photos will help thank you.
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My 6 Pygmys are in a 6 x 4ft shed which was big enough when I just had 2. So, when we got more we added a large extension on to this and it works well. The 6 big goats are in 2 big sheds that we knocked together and again this works well. The picture is the 2 big sheds knocked together.
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WE have purpose built our goathouse after not really finding anything that was suitable. OUrs is concrete slab, then wooden. It is fairly high (2m one end and 2.4 on the higher side), with LOADS of ventilation (louvre principle) above headheight, and measures 3m x 7.20m. Size was dependent on not having to cut too much timber, but it has four pens of 5ft x 8ft and a large central (milking) area. Double doors to make sure we could get deadstock/wheelbarrows out easily, all wood is screwed and can easily be removed/repaired. Doors have outer wooden doors and mesh on the inside, so can leave open all day for fresh air and light, if weather means that goats are in during the day. Also have double glazed (!) windows (from the skip of the local glazing company just down the road), with the inside protected by mesh.
We had snow inside last winter, came in through the ventilation, but my goats were fine (no rugs) on their deep bedding.
Water and electricity also there. (as goats insist on Radio 2 during the day!)
Can't post any pics, as working from laptop and pics are on PC....
Anke
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Hi KJ,
I posted about my goatshed in here, with plenty of pics.
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php/topic,4349.0.html (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php/topic,4349.0.html)
Anke, would be interested to see pics of your shed as well....
Beth
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Have been trying to attach pictures, but my internet connection goes on strike when I try! Will try again tomorrow, too tired now. Anke
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Here's ours - as usual I would like to make changes, additions, alterations and it needs another coat of stain etc but on the whole it does the job
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It's a palace!!! And who's just been let out from the naughty pen?
Good to see your dog so relaxed around the goats - my terrier would just chase them around and nip at their legs!
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It lookes a bit grant there but there's a bit for the dogs and an area for hay - which the orphan lambs were also using - hence the naughty pen - think I'd decided to let them have a run around and face up to the goats (under supervision!!) My 2 old collies are 14 & 17 and pretty much just sunbath when they get the chance, although if 'Blue' barks all the goats run out to see what's going on. :) :)
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I havent been on the forum for ages! love the Goat Palace Bruckley :wave:
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this is my Goat Shed for this winter. It is tempory though, as currently we have juest the two goats. We are building a new garage on this site next summer, so until then they have everytihng they need is this shed :)
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H May's - love your gates (and your goats) sorry have a fetish for shiny gates!! - What size are those and what make are they - I sure I could make use of some of them!!
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wow when you say rug do you mean the one that we might put down on the floor?
not being funny or anything but if it helps during cold spell i may put one down meself ( for goats :D)
if it is fluffy would they not chew or nibble?
thanks langdon :goat:
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I think it means rugs like horses have - goat coats! :)
they would chew anything they can reach, trust me! we tried to "make shade" when we had a really hot spell (about 4 days, in May I think it was !) with sheets on the wire top, they nibbled when they could be bothered to get up...
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H May's - love your gates (and your goats) sorry have a fetish for shiny gates!! - What size are those and what make are they - I sure I could make use of some of them!!
hiya, those goates are from Farm services in Maoud, it is their standard brand, i have used here two 4ft gates, which are working out well :)
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Yes - now looking closley I see what you've done - great job - given me idea's of how to kit the barn out for the 4 ewes at lambing time - not having lots of space want to make sure I make the most of everything and make it functional - usually take's me about 3 designs before it works!!
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hi langdon ere :D how have you stuck those two lenght of timber up along each side of gates to stop
goats from coming out? glue, no nails?
we will be moving at some time and are talking about buying in sheds for goats, after seeing that i think i will do the same, BRILL ;)
langdon :D :goat:
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Nice house BUT I read this three times as "Ghoust Hunting"" me nuts???? no just daft
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they are just a couple of old fence posts, OH put in huge screws to secure them so they are not budging! ;)
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I just bought a nice 6x8 pig shed for out goats, they seems to like it when I constructed it in the yard - but I didnt account for the fact that it was to heavy to lift after it was made - doh - so its back down tomorrow and into a trailer to take down to their field.
I also am considering making a little assault course for them to climb around :)
Baz
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Would an timber horse box be suitable for a goat house?
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Goats will love a bed that is warm and full of deep sweet smelling straw. If they have something to stand on it that's good too, and maybe they can sit underneath that something. Goats get to know their place and then they will love it to pieces. However, goats may choose another dwelling than the one that you have chosen for them! For example, in the winter my pygmy boys get shut in a stable overnight. They are often ready for bed by 3pm and we are in the south. I deep litter and they have rubber matting, they have a grilled window but I shut top and bottom doors. They are like old grannies and don't settle until they are all shut up. In the summer they choose their bed and its in an open hay barn on top of my landrover !!!!! Be prepared that they may well have a chew on the wood inside, so sturdy and cheap is a good idea.
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Goat housing has always been an interesting subject.
I have approx 35 goats of which 8 are males. The boys are housed in 2 lots of 3 and a pair of youngsters * horse looseboxes with small courtyards in front. The girls are housed inside an american barn system - all stables are inside one building - with the milkers in one area that is 16' x20' and the goatlings in a 16 x10.
The floor is concrete but as we use miscanthus bedding, it is allwed to build up a bit in the winter so it stays warm and in fact to a degree is self drying underneath!!
When the cold really sets in, all the goats have their own individual rugs - includes the boys as well - and I find they stay very well on this regime. The pregnant ones have the rugs checked weekly and the surcingles are let out accordingly !!
I make these rugs to order - check them out on my website, www.martins-park.com ,
Everybody has their own ideas for housing, but very often you have to adapt what you have got.