How much room do we need in our barn?

[Happy Palace]

DH graciously offered half of his workshop to convert to a barn area for our animals, but after reading the thread about one building or two, he agrees that ammonia from the urine won't be good for the tools. So, we're going to put up a pole building behind the workshop probably using one wall of the workshop. How much room and how many stalls will we need?

We are planning to have dexters (most likely a bull with one or two cows and whatever calves are necessary for meat and 4-H), two katahdin sheep for pets, a llama and eventually a horse or two. I know that dexters and katahdins don't need alot of shelter, but if we had to bring everyone in, how much room would we need? I'd like to build once and not need to add on later.
Can we use metal for the roofing or will the sound of rain/hail drive the animals nuts?
Can I milk in the pole building or should I set up a milking station in the workshop where we'll be storing hay & feed? Thanks!

[Wolf mom]

From what others say here, build more than you think you'll ever need...and then some.

Maybe a shed type rather than stalls for each breed. I've found horses will stay outside in what I'd consider very inclement weather if you give them their choice.

[JacknJava]

I agree regarding the horses. If you are at all trying to save on money, stalls for them probably won't be necessary. We live where it gets extremely cold and snowy in the winter. We have a run-in shed that provides a wind block from two directions (north and west) and they have access to a round bale at all times. They grow a thick winter coat and do just fine most times unless there is a searing wind or it is raining ice from the sky. I do blanket them sometimes, but only if it gets below -10.

However, if money is not too much of an object, they yes, it would be nice to have the option of putting them inside in inclement weather.

I have no experience with the other animals, so no help there...sorry.

[Scrounger]

It doesn't matter how big you build it - it will be to small. I'm about 90% done with a 40x60 barn. I already need one twice it's size - and I ain't even started to use it for goats yet....

[Spinner]

I have 2 barns and still need more room. The little barn has 4 horse stalls, a feed room, tool room, tack room, and a leanto off one side, the big barn is huge and it's still too small. You'll want a section for hay, feed, stalls for each horse, tack room, a milk room, a large stall for a cow & calf, a sick room, the list goes on & on.

Build as big as you can afford, then find a way to stretch the budget to make it bigger. I've never heard anyone say, "my barn is to big", but I often hear, "I need a bigger barn".

[Happy Palace]

Thanks a bunch. I was leaning toward make it as big as the area will allow. The spot we have is one of the few that stays high and dry, so if we need more room later, it could be a problem. DH should like the "build it big" idea!

[wy_white_wolf]

No matter how much room you have in your barn, it will be half as big as you need it.

[Hillbillybob]

My first barn was small, for a few chickens and 2 hogs. It was 10ft X 14 FT. Thought that was all I would ever need, and My first tool shed still standing was 6 ft X 10 ft.

My next barn was 16ft X 20. I thought for sure that would be a big enough barn. My next tool shed still standing was 24 X 32 with a 10ft open shed off on the south side. I knew that I wouldn't ever need any more room. Both building still in use also.

None of these building ever had the poles cemented into the ground as I just didn't have the money to spare.

My next barn I had money and wanted a good big barn so I put up a 30ft X 40ft building, pole barn and used treated poles cemented into the ground.
I had to tear down the barn 9 years later as all the poles had rotted off that was cemented into the ground level with the top of the concrete. It seems that poles set in concrete will rot faster as the concrete holds water.

I rebuilt the barn without any cement and it has been standing 15 years now.
At the same time I needed more space in my tool barn so I built a 16ft X 26ft woodworking shop no cement in poles and a white gravel floor topped with a tight wood floor.

I don't have anymore animals but I needed a bigger metal working building so the last building I put up was a 32ft X35ft building for a metal shop. I wanted it 40 ft deep and 40 ft wide. A big Black walnut that I wanted to keep in front, my driveway on the East side and the power company lines on the South and East side of my building kept it that size but it is next to the county road so I'm happy.

Morel you never have a big enough building no matter how big you think you are making it.

I have been dreaming of just a little bigger woodworking shop lately also.
I have the room to put it in and thinking about a small 40ft X 60 foot building to put in a bunch of new woodworking tools.

Hillbillybob