getting close to cow gettin'...questions..

[darbyfamily]

Okay... tax money is on its way, thus the money for cow and supplies

I figured we'll end up with a smaller breed, either jersey, dexter or highland...

We're going to build a pole barn with probably one decent size stall in it and then I'd like to do like mentioned in a post about hay bales, and build a smaller stall to the side with a horse corral panel there so they can eat the hay through the bars and none goes to waste.

About how big of a pole barn would a person need for that kind of set up?

Planning to milk in the work shop... we built a chicken pen to one end with a door to outside, but there is still lots of room to put a stanchion in for milking and then we'll have a fridge right there in the shop for eggs and a place to put the milk while I finish up outside stuff if I need to before I carry the milk to the house to strain.

I guess I just want to be sure I have all my ducks in a row before I bring home a cow :P

Thanks for the help.

[francismilker]

I'd think a 20'x20' barn would be plenty big to keep enough supplies and hay for one cow in. Other than that, it looks like you've got a pretty good plan. Remember, no matter how well you've got it planned, you'll have to tweek it a bit now and then until you've got a good routine down. What works for one may not work for others.
Good Luck.