[McRennet]

Ok,

I'm a little new to all this but i am looking to build my own accommodation for the goats. I have 6 with the strong potential of more when they kid! I've had a look at garden sheds etc, all of which seem to be rather expensive, would rather use my time than money. If i can that is...
Are there any low cost housing options out there or indeed does anyone have a plan/dimensions for a goat house that they are willing to give me?
I appreciate that it's a big ask, or perhaps you might know a good book to help me in my quest???

As always, any help is much appreciated.

Many thanks.

[ballingall]

Anything you get made for you- will be expensive, sadly. Garden sheds are ok, but generally one's you get now are quite flimsy, and don't last that long when you have goats rubbing their heads on it, or chewing at the wood.

Some steel framed sheds aren't quite as expensive, and you can get build it yourself packs, which seem pretty good. If you are ok with DIY, I would suggest the best option is to build yourself, definitely. We have been looking into it lately, as we could do with an extension for our billy goats. I think looking to a brick built one seems a good option, or postcreting in really big strong wooden posts, and using corrugated metal sheets for the sides.

My OH bought me quite a book about a month ago- link below. It is quite good- lots of useful info. If you search on build your own animal housing in Books on Amazon, there are actually a few books available.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Build-Animal-Housing-Staunchions/dp/1580175279/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300662039&sr=1-1

[Roxy]

We have an assortment of buildings.  Some of the goats are in an old stone pig stye, others in field shelters, with gates we can pull across.  Intact billy is in a field shelter which is lined with tin sheeting, because he  is not the most gentlest of goats with his housing.

From experience, I would go for the strongest wood, and doors possible.  For example, our half doors have big hinges, and big bolts top and bottom. Goats are known for standing on their back legs to look out, and push at doors or anything else they can, and chew wood too given the chance.

My hubby got strong wood from B & Q, some really tall fencing posts for the corners, and made our shelters himself, although I had one mader by a stable company, who make stables for shire horses, so I know its strong enough to cope with goats!!!

[jaykay]

We made ours using 4" fence posts, 1" plywood outer, then battened it and put polystyrene boards inbetween and then lined it with 1/2" plywood. Kingspan in the roof and then 1/2" plywood lined. I'd agree with BIG hinges - goats are destructive. Build it as though it were going to contain a Suffolk Punch and you'll have it about right 

A friend did beef up a garden shed, with the battening, insulation and plywood as we did on the inside of our building - seems to have lasted so far!

[McRennet]

I was hoping that this would be more of a field shelter that I could enclose them in if i needed to. They will have two stables to call their own for the evenings.
I have found some good designs for building a hay manger though.....

[Shawn]

if you are happy to share the hay manager information i would be interested McRennet ?

[egglady]

very useful thread as we embark upon our first foray into goat keeping too...will be wtching with interest...

[McRennet]

Hello,

I'm glad someone else is in the same boat as me!

As for the manger design I shall try to scan it and post it on here, as soon as I figure out how.... Can't be too hard...!

I reckon my field shelter design is going to be pretty basic. But I shall keep you all posted.

Thanks for all your ideas thus far and please do throw more my way!

[goosepimple]

Hi, sorry just a bit late in reading your message - I use a website called www.freecycle.org - you can register with your area - its worth the 5/10 mins it takes you to do it - you can advertise for WANTED, and get a free shed or maybe some fencing panels you could cobble together - everything is free - its a simple OFFER/WANTED thing - you don't have to offer something in exchange (although we often offer pig meat or fresh eggs) its assumed that you will offer something if you have it instead of advertising in your local press.  We use it a lot and its great, you get emailed every day with stuff, give it a try it pimps.  Goosepimple