[shygirl]

has anyone ever bought these goat houses? and do they last? it can get quite windy here in the winter.
we need something much much stronger than a garden shed type of building.
ta

http://www.smithssectionalbuildings.co.uk/products/double-goat-house-d.php

[fiestyredhead331]

I wish.....short answer is no but looks nice

[Trixie]

Me neither!! It does look nice, your goats will think they have moved into the Ritz if you buy one.

[shygirl]

atm the minute the goats are in 2 14ft x 14ft stables in winter but i think smaller sheds will help organise milking better, and free up the stables for the bigger beasts. whether they would cope with a smaller space though is debateable.
they definitely need to be sturdy and windproof otherwise its very expensive firewood.

[Anke]

When we looked years ago, we thought that ALL goathouses you could buy were far too expensive... remember that the price will almost certainly exclude the concrete base you will need...

[clydesdaleclopper]

Also you will find delivery extortionately expensive. There is a company called Timberscape which are based over near Inverness who will make something similar for you but to NE Scotland specs

[Lesley Silvester]

I've seen those advertised, shygirl, and would love one for my goats but they are too expensive for me. I have no idea how good they are but they look sturdy enough. It's not just the wind you have to worry about. Mine are in a garden shed type, shiplap building and the kids are beginning to push the strips of wood out but bouncing off the walls when they have to play indoors. I now have to buy some Stokboard and get it fitted on the inside to strengthen them.


Let us know what you decide to do.

[fiestyredhead331]

as much as i would love a new shed like that, i am in the 'upcycle' and re-use party. its amazing how many people are delighted if you'll come and dismantle their shed and take it away 
does mean however that I have a very odd selection of sheds all joined together but I have vowed to get a big tin of paint and paint the whole lot so it at least looks a bit more fancy

[plumseverywhere]

We have a shed that my husband made from fence posts, its really sturdy and watertight but with great ventilation. It has a door that the goats can open and it springs shut.
We then bought a shed for the new goats...they took it apart bit by bit untill all that was left was 4 upper struts and a bit of roof.  Hubby found me in tears trying to reconstruct it with hammer, nails and ...bailer twine    at which point he suddenly announced he's bought me a calf shed so to put my tools away.  The calf shed is fantastic value, indestructable and really easy to clean if we have a scouring goat (you know the horizontal type scour    )

[ScotsGirl]

Hi plumseverywhere, any chance of a pic of your shelters? I have a 12'x12' and re-jigged 16'x10' but I can't work out a good dividing system which is easy to dismantle. They have free run in summer then I pen around kidding. At moment I use 3 hurdles in a triangle with hay racks which helps save a bit of hay but it gets wet in the dip between houses. I need a practical bloke to come and sort it. Or I need to pick up tips from others but need to do by re-cycling or cheaply as running out of cash.

[plumseverywhere]

This is the calf hutch - its a perfect 'shelter' but not sure how it would be used for kidding.   I had my old shed when Puffin kidded and we sectioned it with a hurdle so she could get out but the kid couldn't until he was older. The other shed I shall have to try get a pic of when I'm back from festivals 

[ScotsGirl]

That looks brill. Will have to look for one which would solve my housing problem In Some paddocks.