How many LM's in a 6'x8' shed?

[Mountaineer]

I'm about to build a shed right now. 6x8 or 8x8. I think I'll choose the 6x8 for ease of moving because it will be on skids, moved all over the place and my land isn't perfectly smooth (bigger is better unless it's being moved!)

It's shelter only, and nighttime lockup. Lots of pasture space.
So... how many adult lamanchas would fit in there comfortably? And for reference- how about 8x8 (not TOO late just yet)?

Thanks!!!

[DocM]

I have a 6' X 8' shed in a paddock with 6 nearly adult sized dry yearlings. There is plenty of room for them, but of course, they snuggle really close. I could toss a couple more in there without worrying about crowding. Mine is three sided. If I were going to lock them in, I'd probably go with 8 X 8 for the same number.

[midkiffsjoy]

I built a 5 x 8 (thats what I had laying around) shelter for my three bucks and it's too big. They all get in and then snuggle in close at the end (and it's four sided....with shuddered windows...Im a girl, what do you expect? You should see the flower boxs Im building to add to it!) I'm gonna build an 8x8 for the girls (I have 9 does) and I think it'll be more than enough room for cool nights. (But then we are in Texas and we have about 3 nasty weeks a year. you might want more space if you have more nasty nights/dayz).

[Mountaineer]

Woo hoo!
I was afraid people would say "1.5 goats" or something aweful. This will be plenty big enough for me then for the enxt 2-3 years.
IF April ever comes around and I get the goats.

[Blue Oak Ranch]

Right now I have 6 big does in an 8x8 structure on skids. I do the same thing - haul it all over and it works GREAT. They have electric netting fencing, so they have a large pasture area that is moved as well. We get very little rain here, so this system works for me. I'd probably need a bigger shed if I had a rainier climate, as the feeder is inside. One tiny mini doe beds down under the feeder, where the big girls can't go.

The one thing I LOVE in my towable pasture shelters is wood chips on the dirt floor (bottomless structure). I get wood chips dumped for free by the tree trimming companies, and put about 6-8" inside the shelter (no oleander, no toxic trees). I then layer down with straw for bedding. What the wood chips do is break ground contact and the straw doesn't soak up ground moisture and urine. It acts like artificial gravel and allows drainage. When I tow the house, I lift up each corner with the front loader on the tractor to 'break the seal' on the bedding, hook it up with chains, and away we go, with the house riding up and over the old bedding. It's easy to scoop up the leftovers with the front loader for composting.

What you'd have to think about is the herd structure - in such a small house, sometimes the bossier does won't let some does in the shelter when it's cold or raining. If you can put a sneaky side door in - or just more than one door on the same side - does lower in the 'pecking order' can get in. Same thing with food and feeders. My does all get along really well, but I have a quarantine pen with two large does and two doelings from another herd - the big girls don't let the little ones in the shelter, the sneakysnots. They're here temporarily, and they'll be sold.

Cheers!

Katherine

[DocM]

Katherine, what brand of electric net fencing to you use? I'm considering some for goats. Do you use a 12V or solar charger? Thanks.

[Blue Oak Ranch]

It's the Electrostop 42" from Premier 1. Love their products! I have the 12v with solar panel. The goats really respect the fence. The biggest maintenance issue is keeping the weeds and grass from touching the hot wire. Move and mow, move and mow. But it's worth it to let them have fresh ground.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=409

Cheers!

Katherine

[Jcran]

Originally Posted by Blue Oak Ranch

It's the Electrostop 42" from Premier 1. Love their products! I have the 12v with solar panel. The goats really respect the fence. The biggest maintenance issue is keeping the weeds and grass from touching the hot wire.
Katherine

Ditto; I use connectors from the regular hot charger that's plugged in, and it zaps those little patooties and keeps em from going through. It is great to run along fence lines that have been inundated with berries or acacia. I found that my old parmac solar charger didn't give enough ZAP and the goats went through it. A newer one or a bigger solar one would probably work better.

[TexCountryWoman]

Keep in mind that 6 X 8 is really not that big. The doe on the bottom of the totem pole may very well end up having to sleep on the outside of the shelter. Goats are pretty mean to each other when we are not looking and even when we are looking. They push and shove and that is all part of their society. The queen has her spot to sleep and on down the goat pecking order. you never want one goat too many in a shelter. Also, plan on falling in love with and keeping doelings that will grow up quickly and need space. So build pens and barns roomier than you think you need...I am sure others will agree with that! Goats are very addictive and they multiply VERY quickly.

[Bearfootfarm]

Id do it 8 X 8 simply because lumber comes in 8 ft lengths. Why cut off 2 feet?

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

Id do it 8 X 8 simply because lumber comes in 8 ft lengths. Why cut off 2 feet?

LOL- too late

[Mountaineer]

I will make a larger one in time. I'm a bigger sucker than most of you for keeping too many critters- and they all deserve a good nights sleep...
I'll post a pic when I'm done.

[DocM]

Originally Posted by Jcran

Ditto; I use connectors from the regular hot charger that's plugged in, and it zaps those little patooties and keeps em from going through. It is great to run along fence lines that have been inundated with berries or acacia. I found that my old parmac solar charger didn't give enough ZAP and the goats went through it. A newer one or a bigger solar one would probably work better.

I have a 12V charger, so I'll probably use that, and use a solar trickle charger on the battery. It's my old RV set up so it should work okay. There was a time when I thought it was dumb for people to cut out blackberry bushes, so I encouraged them, duh, now I have like 3 acres of them. That's too much, really. REALLY. They attract yellow jackets like no tomorrow.

I went to the premier site and it lists two types, electrostop, and pos/neg electrostop. I don't get it. What's the difference?