Fencing, Housing, Paddocks

Wehner Homestead

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I started to put this on the kidding thread but decided it fit better as a separate discussion here. Plans are in the works for a proper goat area with a covered loafing area with hay feeders and sleeping shelves, “dry lot” with toys and fresh water access connected to rotational paddocks accessed separately by gates from the dry lot. The loafing area will be a lean to that is perpendicular to our existing barn and will be connected by an aisle the width of one of the current livestock gates. Permanent kidding stalls will be built with tongue-n-groove board walls and sliding stall doors that latch. We’ve considered some type of Dutch door also. If you walk in our barn from the front (looking to the east), the tack/feed/milking room is on the left. The next gap on the left will be the aisle to the goat area. If you turn into that aisle, the tack room would be on the left and the kidding stalls will be on the right. A containment stall will be built in the loafing area to contain babies being separated overnight. We are currently researching what we should plant/broadcast since goats prefer browse. I have a few areas that they can clean up for us but those won’t be fenced properly for some time so we shall see.

Plans for a buck area include a small pen for “introduction”instead of just throwing him in after quarantine/ hospital pen. This would also work for breeding...They will be away from the main barn to avoid sharing a fenceline or tempting jumpers. We haven’t decided on an ideal area but they will have more of a loading shed/run-in. King is currently alone but can see the girls. He will be getting a buddy buck soon and Jackson will be joining once he’s bigger. I’d like to have the buck area divided into two main areas so that I can separate them if need be and the have the small area too.

The quarantine pen looks like it’s going in my front yard (can’t be seen from the road.) Less to mow anyway! We have one now but don’t want it to be in the main barn like it is now.

There are two “dog pens” directly across the aisle from the tack room and they are each about 8 feet wide and 10 feet deep. We plan to use one for contained weaning and then move them to another pen that will allow browsing and normal goat behavior without being in the main herd until completely weaned.

We have lots of fencing to do. When that’s done, the rest of the barn will be getting overhauled to have two full-size horse stalls, a Calving stall, update corral system, an alley and paddock plan change behind the barn, dividing up the existing lean-to for show cattle pens with all the accessories with paddocks, a hallway that goes to a wash rack and clipping area, an add-on lean-to for creep feeding and weaning. When the water line is adapted for the wash rack, I’m supposed to get an on-demand water heater for my milk room, along with a sink and counter system and a stovetop to do my milk processing in the milk room.

We are also planning a covered round bale feeding area for the brood cows that allows bales to be fed without entering the pasture and creating the muddy mess that we currently do. The horses will also get a covered round bale feeder that is closed on two sides and open on the other two (south and east).

Finally, a lean-to will be built on the shop that will allow for the pigs to be kept on concrete with a dirt pen off of that with nipple waterers on a water line (for appropriate weather only) and a small kennel set-up enclosed on one end for our dogs to be penned when needed with inside/outside access for each pen. It will also have a tub for bathing and grooming more easily.

If DH gets bored :lol:after we do all that, I want a lean-to on the other end of the shop that is more of a shelter house with an open fireplace, porch swings, picnic tables, Basketball goal, corn hole set-up for bbqs and get-togethers.

Now that I’ve thrown all our plans at you, what are your do’s and don’t’s. What is your favorite thing about your set-up and your least favorite? We want to do it right the first time. Also, browse recommendations for goats as the area where their paddocks will go isn’t overgrown. In fact, I’m going to have to plant protected trees to grow for shade and construct something in the paddocks to give them a break from the rays though I bet they prefer the loafing area with fans...
 

Wehner Homestead

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That was really long-winded! I’m also trying to figure out my ideal size goat herd that meets the production needs while maintaining a manageable number... Mini Lamanchas are coming too (hoping this year!)
 

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Once you get those mini manchas, you can let those itty bitty toy goats go... :duc:hide Sounds very ummm aggressive? As far as the plan goes. Wish I was young again, and had money :confused:

I hope this summer that I can get some fill brought in to form up the level area where I want build the barn. I need along with that, to find someone to do the dirt work to lvl/elevate that area and grade the surround to prevent flooding and provide proper drainage routes. Once that's done, I'd really like a 20x~32' center barn with lean tos off either side at least 12'x32'. So overall structure would be 44'x32'. Stalls and hay storage, milking area, etc under the lean tos. Center area with "garage door" roll ups at both ends. 12' height min, so 14' ceiling height. Right now, since I'm by myself, I'm leaning toward purchasing one of those metal prefab barns. Would love a 2 level pole barn, w/hay storage above, but can't afford it. Of course I also have fencing to complete and just as soon as the ground drys out and the rain stops I'll be back at it.
 

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I have a hard time considering stuff without visuals. And visuals might add to the discussion of possibilities that aren't in the present plans. But I like all the energy and dreaming...
 

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I reread the comments and have a few responses.

This is probably a decade worth or upgrades and renovations as we will try to do most ourselves to save money. Projects will be funded as money comes available. (Student loans and medical bills consume a drastic portion at the present time.)

Fencing for the goats has to be installed. We currently have all high tensile that is electric. This worked for the Boers but the gates are general livestock and that won’t work for my Nigerians. Can’t have my lobes running all over the countryside. (I also want another Pyr but I want to make sure that the fencing is such to properly contain one as I don’t think I can face the heartbreak of losing another.)

We are adding some Mini Manchas for volume. Due to DD2’s medical issues, we’ve found that she benefits from goats’ milk in numerous ways. I’ve made yogurt from goat milk also. Our goal is to completely replace all dairy in our home so cheese, ice cream, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter, and of course all recipes that call for milk. In order to do this, I need more volume from fewer animals. On the flip side of that coin, I need to have a guaranteed milk supply year round as her drinking cows’ milk is not an option. Nigerians aren’t seasonal breeders so I can use them to cover during the Mini pregnancies and when I think I might run into a shortage. We are actually working with a line of Nigerians currently that are known for extended lactation. I’m excited about this potential. I love the babies but I’m all about the milk for MY baby. :)

Our flat ground is hay fields. Everything else is rolling. The barn is actually built on a grade and has more boards around the bottom on one side to make up for the difference. Lime is used to fill as needed now. I’m assuming the hauled dirt in then to fill in the hole they created in the floor...
 

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Oh and I want heritage turkeys to sell and fill my freezer as a sustainable food source. I’d like to look into ducks and I’m leaning toward Khakis thanks to CB and DV. Ducks would be for eggs though I would like to try cooking one and consider them a food source if we like it. Finally, bees are high on my list. Refined sugar isn’t good for DD2 and I’d like to replace it with honey in the majority of our diet. I also like how beneficial bees are for the environment and would surround them with the appropriate plants. Win, win.
 

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On the money side, look for shipping crates. They are made of good lumber and are often free. Take them apart, stack the lumber up. I scrounged stuff for several years, when we moved I had enough to build a 36'x36' pole barn. We did buy new metal for the roof and sides. I also haunted the cull rack at Lowes for discount lumber. If it was curved or crooked, it had my name on it!
 

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I finally got pics to go with this thread so I copied my post from above and will enter the pics as appropriate.

“I started to put this on the kidding thread but decided it fit better as a separate discussion here.

A bit of the front of the barn with the sliding door open. View is looking into the aisle. The man door is to the right and tge window to the feed/milk room is to the left and covered when the sliding door is fully open.
DFDC4146-786F-4160-A274-EE93C59D532B.jpeg


Plans are in the works for a proper goat area with a covered loafing area with hay feeders and sleeping shelves, “dry lot” with toys and fresh water access connected to rotational paddocks accessed separately by gates from the dry lot. The loafing area will be a lean to that is perpendicular to our existing barn and will be connected by an aisle the width of one of the current livestock gates.

Pic shows milk/feed room on left. The “alley” to the goat lean-to will be from the room wall to the pole. Kidding stalls will start at the pole.
D89080A8-DE2F-4638-9924-A28F55FEC3E9.jpeg

Permanent kidding stalls will be built with tongue-n-groove board walls and sliding stall doors that latch. We’ve considered some type of Dutch door also. If you walk in our barn from the front (looking to the east), thetack/feed/milking room is on the left. The next gap on the left will be the aisle to the goat area. If you turn into that aisle, the tack room would be on the left and the kidding stalls will be on the right. A containment stall will be built in the loafing area to contain babies being separated overnight. We are currently researching what we should plant/broadcast since goats prefer browse. I have a few areas that they can clean up for us but those won’t be fenced properly for some time so we shall see.

Inside feed/milk room pic that shows my milking stand.
2E5C46AE-1816-4AC1-AE62-8718C54C413C.jpeg

Plans for a buck area include a small pen for“introduction”instead of just throwing him in after quarantine/ hospital pen. This would also work for breeding...They will be away from the main barn to avoid sharing a fenceline or tempting jumpers. We haven’t decided on an ideal area but they will have more of a loafing shed/run-in. King is currently alone (eta: Knight is in his own stall also) but can see the girls. He will be getting a buddy buck soon (eta: waiting a bit longer to introduce) and Jackson will be joining once he’s bigger. I’d like to have the buck area divided into two main areas so that I can separate them if need be and the have the small area too.

The quarantine pen looks like it’s going in my front yard (can’t be seen from the road.) Less to mow anyway! We have one now but don’t want it to be in the main barn like it is now.

There are two “dog pens” directly across the aisle from the tack room and they are each about 8 feet wide and 10 feet deep. We plan to use one for contained weaning and then move them to another pen that will allow browsing and normal goat behavior without being in the main herd until completely weaned. (One pen is storage right now but will hold the bucklings soon.)
5A2F5FEF-317C-4D25-A95C-D0173ADC88C4.jpeg

We have lots of fencing to do. When that’s done, the rest of the barn will be getting overhauled to have two full-size horse stalls, a Calving stall, (pic shows that the left side can be divided. First section will be 2 kidding stalls, then two horse stalls that can double as goat pens if needed, then a Calving stall at the back.)
01BCB9E1-CFB0-4E45-84B6-400494BB1488.jpeg

update corral system, an alley and paddock plan change behind the barn, dividing up the existing lean-to for show cattle pens with all the accessories with paddocks, a hallway that goes to a wash rack and clipping area, an add-on lean-to for creep feeding and weaning. When the water line is adapted for the wash rack, I’m supposed to get an on-demand water heater for my milk room, along with a sink and counter system and a stovetop to do my milk processing in the milk room.

Existing lean-to pics. Pigs are houses out there with brood cow access and some storage. (The far right by the garage door will be the wash rack and grooming area. Each set of posts will be a pen with a paddock. The fence line to the south will be changed.) You can’t tell but this is a concrete floor. @Baymule Do you like those industrial pallets?? Use hasn’t been decided yet but looking forward to a good plan!
93BF6591-3C1D-4EF5-8D16-D2025B8EC3B0.jpeg
752444EB-421E-4643-8939-EF7632FC282B.jpeg


Looking from the main barn aisle south into the existing lean to. The cattle chute is to the left and the dog pens pictured above are on the right.
1E68DC03-9DC1-4174-9362-865C97297C78.jpeg

We are also planning a covered round bale feeding area for the brood cows that allows bales to be fed without entering the pasture and creating the muddy mess that we currently do. The horses will also get a covered round bale feeder that is closed on two sides and open on the other two (south and east).

Finally, a lean-to will be built on the shop that will allow for the pigs to be kept on concrete with a dirt pen off of that with nipple waterers on a water line (for appropriate weather only) and a small kennel set-up enclosed on one end for our dogs to be penned when needed with inside/outside access for each pen. It will also have a tub for bathing and grooming more easily.

If DH gets bored :lol:after we do all that, I want a lean-to on the other end of the shop that is more of a shelter house with an open fireplace, porch swings, picnic tables, Basketball goal, corn hole set-up for bbqs and get-togethers.

Now that I’ve thrown all our plans at you, what are your do’s and don’t’s. What is your favorite thing about your set-up and your least favorite? We want to do it right the first time. Also, browse recommendations for goats as the area where their paddocks will go isn’t overgrown. In fact, I’m going to have to plant protected trees to grow for shade and construct something in the paddocks to give them a break from the rays though I bet they prefer the loafing area with fans...

ETA: I maxed out the pics allowed and only got these quick snaps. I’ve been on a mission to get everything in order since I feel better and I’m over the disorganization! I’ll create a separate post when I get some outside pics.
 

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Latestarter

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Lots of plans there. Gonna look great when it's all done. I don't have any yet but understand that goats love blackberry and raspberry leaves/canes. Since they grow like obnoxious weeds once started, you could plant a line of them and then let the goats at them after berry harvest. They'll eat them all down and they'll grow right back the next year.

ETA, you could also consider weeping willow as they LOVE wet areas and grow extremely fast. Goats love the leaves and bark so will be glad to help you keep them trimmed back.
 

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