Designing the 'barn'

issylthesthlia · #1 02/11/10, 05:56 PM

Ok-- since you guys are all awesome and instructive...

I have a 12 X 8 shed aka 'the barn' where I currently keep my chickens and muscovies. I intend for it to be the nighttime abode for the goats (when I get them) as well. My biggest concern, of course, is that, with them all living together, that the goats will get into the chicken/duck feed.

Any tricks for cohabitation? Or should I make a 'stall' for the goats by sectioning off half of the shed and putting in a gate? I don't mind construction-- I think it's fun and I have five and three year old boys to 'help' LOL.

My concern there, is that the space would be too small (I'll either be doing NDs or mini-milkers)

Thoughts?

Minelson · #2 02/11/10, 06:12 PM

How many do you plan on getting? I would build a partition to keep them separate with perches for the chickens to roost where they won't poop on everyone. Keep the food and some water in there (not under where they roost) Or.. section off an area that the chickens and ducks can get to to eat that would be impossible for the goats to get at. I had a similar situation this past summer and it worked out great. It's an old grainery. I put a door to get into the chicken side and there was a little trap door that I attached a pulley and rope to that I could open and close from the door. It depends on how many chickens/goats/ducks you have on the size. I think mine was bigger. Here are some pics. This is the best I have right now
Designing the 'barn' - Goats

The goats had the left side...you can see the wall that separated them on the right side - Gretta is standing right in front of the door (to the right) that went into the chicken area.
Designing the 'barn' - Goats

Just to give you an idea of size..the grainery is the lttle red building in the middle
Designing the 'barn' - Goats

issylthesthlia · #3 02/11/10, 06:21 PM

I'm planning on getting two. There's a large work bench in there (essentially a large two-level table) that I could actually very simply make into a chicken and duck hideaway-- to get away from the goats, where I can keep the food, using that. There's shelving up high around that the chickens like to sit on and I have a roosting bar up high near the one window in there.

It is a tight space, so I definitely don't want to make it too cramped for the goats. It's not the only option-- I have two fenced in areas that I could use one of, if I needed to. We have had our birds in the past slaughtered by a coyote (1) and we've been visited by a bobcat (yes, I am in a very urban neighborhood!) So, I want to keep them as safe as possible. During the day they can free-range, or I'll make a mini-pasture for them...

bluestarsneyes · #4 02/11/10, 06:27 PM

we have chickens and dwarf goats and did just what you are talking about...my husband just framed out right down the middle. Used chicken wire as the inside wall and a screen door to get in and out of.

We put the chickens nesting boxes and food in there and cut a small door in the side of the barn for the chickens to escape into their own fenced area.

The goats go in and out the front door into their own area.

I did have mine all together and everyone got along until feeding time and my goats just would not stay out of the chicken food. They started to bloat, so we keep them apart now and everyone seems happy about the arrangement.

Good luck to you!

What kind of goats are you getting?

issylthesthlia · #5 02/11/10, 06:35 PM

I'm still in planning stages-- my DH says, when he gets his new job he'll get me goats

I'm thinking Nigerian Dwarfs, or any other mini-milkers. There are mini-oberhaslis, mini-nubians, mini-alpines, mini-toggenburgs, mini-lamanchas, AND mini-saanens all around this area. I just need the right timing

.

The birds free-range all the time and I'm not willing to cut a hole in the side of the shed. What I think I can do, though, is set up a feeding area in a nesting-box situation (almost like a coop within the shed). My only concern there is if a mini-goat can fit through the same hole as a muscovy duck

bluestarsneyes · #6 02/11/10, 06:44 PM

Good luck to you on your goat search....I researched for about a year and visited farms and talked to people. I finally settled on dwarf nigerians and could not be happier!

However, they are so small they can fit just about anywhere a chicken can...and you will find that goats are so curious...even if they can't fit...they will make it a life mission to try!

My chickens will be free ranging when the weather gets better...but I have some babies that I'm trying to train right now to stay in the barn at night as protection.

wintrrwolf · #7 02/12/10, 01:18 PM

I had to use a cattle panel to allow my chickens to free range and keep my dogs and goats away from the chicken feed, both dogs and goats got diarrhea from eating the chicken food

The holes in the cattle panel are big enough for the chickens to go through but to small for even my 5 month old nigerian buck to get through, but smaller baby goats could probable go through it. Don't know about the ducks, but my Roo is pretty big and he can fit through. So you could use a portion of a cattle panel to create a pen that will allow freedom...

issylthesthlia · #8 02/12/10, 01:36 PM

that's a great idea! The ducks can cram themselves into the most fascinating corners... I'm going to have to try that!

Melbertsch · #9 02/13/10, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issylthesthlia

I'm still in planning stages-- my DH says, when he gets his new job he'll get me goats

I'm thinking Nigerian Dwarfs, or any other mini-milkers. There are mini-oberhaslis, mini-nubians, mini-alpines, mini-toggenburgs, mini-lamanchas, AND mini-saanens all around this area. I just need the right timing

.

The birds free-range all the time and I'm not willing to cut a hole in the side of the shed. What I think I can do, though, is set up a feeding area in a nesting-box situation (almost like a coop within the shed). My only concern there is if a mini-goat can fit through the same hole as a muscovy duck

My nigies can fit through holes you wouldn't DREAM they could! I cut three smallboards width from a wood panel fence to allow access for my chickens to the roosts and food, and right through the goats went. These are grown girls, but very cunning! If you don't think they can, just watch them! LOL

Wags · #10 02/14/10, 12:30 AM

6x8 would be plenty of room for just two Niggies - heck I've seen three crowd into a 4x4 dog house. (Yes Niggies do fine in dog houses.) Give the chickens their own small door, but if you have Niggie babies, they will start off smaller than the chickens and will follow the chickens into the chicken side of the building so you will need to put the chicken feeder up high enough the kids can't get to it.