What to Know When Building a Goat Shelter

Goat shelter ideas vary widely in shape, size, design, and functionality. Goats are social animals and love spending time with each other and humans. Goats love to stay outside, so the ideal shelters just need to provide protection from exposure to wind, sun, snow, and rain. Running water and electricity are not required, but are very helpful features that make it easier to care for your goat herd. 

 

When contemplating the ideal goat shelter for your farm, consider the following qualities of your farm and herd: 

 

At what pace is your herd expanding? The shelter needs to be large enough to accommodate growing goat families. Starting small is a good idea, especially if you are bringing goats to your farm for the first time, but keep in mind that each goat needs 8-10 square feet of space in a shelter to be happy and healthy. Additionally, pregnant does and newborn kids need secluded pens that provide even more robust shelter. 

Do your goats rotate between pastures? If so, your shelter will likely need to move pastures as well. 

If the shelter is stationary, is the chosen location accessible to the goats in all weather conditions? The shelter should be placed on the highest point on the farm to avoid pooling water during rain storms. Additionally, is the chosen location near people to discourage predator activities, especially at night? 

What is the climate in your area? Farms that receive heavy snowfall need to have sturdy goat shelters that can withstand the weight of the snow. Farms that receive heavy winds need goat shelters that are in the south-facing position to provide the best protection from the wind. 

What is the breed of your goats? Due to differences in body composition, dairy goats need more robust shelters than meat goats. 

How do you plan to clean the goat shelter? Shorter shelters are more comfortable for the goats, but the roof needs to be high enough to allow humans to comfortably and easily clean inside. 

Where do you store your herd feeding materials, equipment, and supplies? If desired, goat shelters can also include storage for hay, grain, tools, and other herd care items. While the goats should not have access to the storage section, they should have access to a feeding and watering area. 

Tools & Materials for Building a Goat Shelter

When planning how to build a goat shelter, there are many different strategies and possibilities. Because goats are like rambunctious toddlers and can be quite destructive, it is important to build a shelter using sturdy materials and tight connections. The goat shelter needs to be able to withstand playing kids and butting male goats. The sides can be made of recycled materials, 2x4s, and/or plywood sheets. To keep the goats as comfortable as possible, the roof needs to be made of a material that will not corrode, radiate heat, or resonate noise. It is also critical that the roof is wind resistant and aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, the roofing materials need to be easy to handle and install.

 

Below you will find the most affordable, DIY-friendly, weather resistant, and durable materials and required tools to create a simple, stationary, three-sided goat shelter.

 

Materials

  1. Wood posts
  2. Pine 2x4s for frame and siding
  3. Plywood sheets
  4. Wood screws
  5. ONDULINE® ONDURA® roofing sheet
  6. ONDULINE® screws 
  7. Cinder blocks

 

Tools

  1. Drill
  2. Hand or circular saw
  3. Pencil
  4. Measuring tape
  5. Sand paper
  6. Staple gun
  7. Work gloves and protective goggles
  8. Level
  9. Shovel

7 Steps in Building a Goat Shelter

While goat shelters are highly customizable and can be built in a multitude of ways, there are a few critical steps involved in building a basic, sturdy goat shelter. 

 

  1. The first step is to select or create your design. The design should meet the needs of your existing goat herd, allow for herd growth, allow for easy cleaning, and provide ample protection against the weather in your area. Take note of the measurements, all necessary tools and materials, and the quantity of materials needed. 
  2. The second step is to acquire all the tools and materials needed for the project, and make sure that your construction site is distanced from your curious goat herd. It is important to wait until the shelter is complete before revealing it to your goats. 
  3. Once you are ready to begin construction, measure (twice!) and cut the pieces needed for the frame and walls. If your design includes a floor or dividing walls, measure and cut those parts as well. 
  4. For a stationary goat shelter, dig holes into the ground for the posts. Position the posts inside the holes and fill the space with dirt or gravel. 
  5. Sand and assemble the wood components of the side walls, optional interior divisions and floor, and roof frame. In cold or windy climates, reinforce plank walls with plywood to seal up any cracks that might let the wind come into the shelter. Goats like dry floors, so in areas that receive heavy rainfall, you can elevate a plywood floor on cinder blocks to ensure the ground inside the shelter is always dry.
  6. Once the sides are constructed, it is time to add the roof. For a quick and easy installation, follow the Ondura Premium Installation Guide
  7. Finally, celebrate the completion of your DIY goat shelter with a grand-opening ceremony. Invite your goats to your shelter and allow them to enjoy their new home away from the elements! 

 

For more DIY inspiration and materials, visit the Onduline site today. 

 

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