Critique my barn plan please

[Wags]

I currently have 4 Nigerian Dwarf Does and plan to increase my herd to max of eight. The kidding stalls could be one large stall, but I wanted to plan and build with two in mind just in case. At first I was worried that they wouldn't be big enough, but after seeing how little space my current doe used when kidding I'm sure it will more than adequate.

The interior will mostly have half height walls (indicated in gray on the plan) and the window is positioned to maximize the air flow from the frequent breeze we get in the summer.

Your comments and suggestions please.


To see a larger image click on the above thumbnail

[Blue Oak Ranch]

I would rotate the kidding stalls so that you can enter either from the feed storage area separately. It is a *royal* pain in the butt to be carrying stuff through the goat common area without the rest taking far too much interest in it. Then you're dealing with stuff and nosy goats and gatelatches.... Yep. Headache central.

It's also good to be able to feed and water without having to go in the pen. So, a feeder in the common area that you can fill from the feed room or the milking area is very convenient! You don't have to fight pushy goats and get your toes stepped on when you feed.

Otherwise, they look great!

Cheers!

Katherine

[Wags]

Good idea on the rotating the kidding pens - thanks!

[Zone]

You have your barn marked as being a 12'x16'. The inside dimentions of the pens and such amount to 13'x18'. Other than that and the switching of the feeders and kid pens I think it looks great. That is about the same size barn we hope to build soon. You have given me some ideas to think about. Thanks.

[deetu]

I would put some kind of walkway in. Like Katherine said, it's a pain when trying to do things with goats trying to do other things. Also, two doors or gates would have to get opened in order to get into the feed room.

I have keyhole feeders that work fantastic. You could connect the hallway to the feeders. Less waste and work.

[J.T.M.]

How did you draw that?Do I need to buy a download thingy ma-bob?

[Wags]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I drew it with Photoshop Elements. But you could do it with any imaging program. (GIMP is free) Eventually I'll probably try to do a full 3D rendering in Google Sketch-up (which is also free) before I start construction.

[J.T.M.]

Will your kidding stall walls be removable ?The space would be used only a week a year other wise ,right? Why only one window,are you going to have elect. running to it for lights?Will you have some type of roof ventilation?

[Wags]

The door has a window in it too so there is light there and most of the year the large door to the common area will be open. Suppose I could put another window in the feed area, but they aren't cheap. The one large window can be opened to facilitate a breeze through the building. There will be roof vent at either gable end, but the building will get morning sun, and shade in the afternoon. No electricity at this point, but am hoping to eventually have running water at or nearby. Otherwise I'll just keep carrying it like I've been doing for the past year.

If all goes well I should have the kidding area in use for a couple of weeks every 3-4 months. (Nigerians breed year round) When not used for kidding it will be used to separate the kids at night so that I can milk in the morning before turning everyone out. I had planned for the center wall of the kidding stalls to be removable, I will be using specially designed metal panels, so not sure if I can make the front panels removable as well.

My thought was that I would mostly use the kidding stall nearest the feed area so that I could enter and feed from there. Nigerians can be pushy at feeding time, but they are small enough the danger is mostly from tripping over them.

[susanne]

i think the feed storage room is too big. are you planning to store hay in it?
for fire safety i would store it in a different facility.
how many goats are you planning to keep? have you thought about future expansion?

[J.T.M.]

Originally Posted by Wags

The door has a window in it too so there is light there and most of the year the large door to the common area will be open. Suppose I could put another window in the feed area, but they aren't cheap. The one large window can be opened to facilitate a breeze through the building. There will be roof vent at either gable end, but the building will get morning sun, and shade in the afternoon. No electricity at this point, but am hoping to eventually have running water at or nearby. Otherwise I'll just keep carrying it like I've been doing for the past year.


I have looked at windows at fleet/farm ,$17.00 for wood framed, but I don't remember the size.Here in Iowa we face our open side to the south to catch the summer breeze and shelter from the winter wind.It sounds like yours faces east[?].

If all goes well I should have the kidding area in use for a couple of weeks every 3-4 months. (Nigerians breed year round) When not used for kidding it will be used to separate the kids at night so that I can milk in the morning before turning everyone out.

I had no ideal goats worked this way.I still think sheep.



Nigerians can be pushy at feeding time, but they are small enough the danger is mostly from tripping over them.

Tempted but............no comment

[CountryHaven]

Your sketch looks great with the comments about access to feeding from outside the pens themselves.

What I really wanted to comment on was THANK YOU for the google sketch up link! So COOL.

[Wags]

The feed/storage area probably a little on the large side - I feed pellets and buy enough for 6 months at a time. I don't have a need for more than 8 does, no matter how tempting it might be to keep more.

JTM - we live on the east side of a butte that dramatically affects wind and weather patterns around us. We usually get winds/storms out of the southwest in the winter and winds from west in the summer. But that isn't true for everyone in Oregon, just for our little micro climate. Larger dairy does don't usually come into heat multiple times a year, that is benefit of the smaller Nigerians.

[susanne]

Originally Posted by Wags

Larger dairy does don't usually come into heat multiple times a year, that is benefit of the smaller Nigerians.

i have nubians and just right now i have some ladies in heat and the boys are smelly and sticky. looks like i will have some kids in oct/nov
other dairy breeds are seasonal, not so much nubians.

[Wags]

I made some changes - added more windows and decreased the feed storage space. Almost considering going with a smaller barn, but I'd probably live to regret that decision. Interior walls will be panels so the configuration can be changed as needed.



Additional comments/suggestions are most welcome.

[J.T.M.]

I have got to get myself one of these drawing things.I'm working on updating a 40 x30 pole barn.My kids won't let me down load anything without them looking it over first and they won't be home untill Mon.I don't know what a browser is ,but I'm told I down loaded a half dozen once.



Will this barn be wood or tin?Your floor dirt or cement?

[Wags]

If we can figure out how to get concrete at an affordable price then half will be concrete and the common area will be dirt. Wood siding - it's cheaper than metal around here.