Barns - a surprisingly controversial subject in the 'goat ranching community' - mean something a little different to each person. For some people, a goat barn has air conditioning, flat screen TV's, and a bowling alley; for others it's not much more than a few trees standing next to each other. We fall somewhere in the middle. Here's what we think a goat barn should look like.
A good goat barn keeps most of the rain and snow off - but it doesn't have to block everything. It doesn't need to be heated - the herd will stand together to keep warm. It should have plenty of room so nobody is left outside and elevated floors so water doesn't puddle at the goats' feet. Anything fancier than this is a waste.
Our barn has a tin roof that could cover almost twice as many goats as we usually keep. It doesn't have any sides - as the goats huddle together to keep warm, the ones on the outside block the wind and rain until their 'shift' is done and they move to the inside. It is supported by landscaping timbers instead of walls so, when there are kids, they won't get pressed against a wall and suffocated. By not having a single entrance, no single doe can 'guard the door,' to keep the others outside. Manure piles up on the floor to keep it elevated and after a while, it packs in to make a firm base. We have built a couple 'short tables' that sit inside the barn. They are just tall enough that babies can walk under them to avoid getting stepped on.
A goat shed doesn't need to be anything fancy - just something to protect them from the elements. As always, we'd love to hear your designs and strategies in the comments - even if you do have a 'goat bowling alley!'
See also: How to Build a Goat Pen, How to Build a Buck Pen
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