Dwarf goat owners?

Squeaky McMurdo · #1 09/27/12, 08:05 PM

So if you only have 2 or 3 goats what are your goats sleeping in?

I have heard a large dog house works nicely and this would be the best option since we live in a neighborhood and already have a large playhouse for our children, so our homeowners insurance might not be happy if we built a shed.

This is the one I'm wanting to build. I may make it a double one like this (minus the buffet in the middle, lol) Dwarf goat owners? - Goats

So since I really don't want to wait to get goats until the weather is once again warm enough to have them sleep in a temporary shelter made of a large dog crate while I build...

Would anyone be kind enough to measure their fattest goat for me? I need height to top of the head, height to shoulders, length, and width.

julieq · #2 09/27/12, 08:14 PM

We have a dozen miniature goats. This is a new property for us and we haven't built a barn yet, so we are using plastic calf hutches (we have four of them). The last time we purchased they were about 260.00 per hutch, which is really reasonable as compared to building anything or purchasing a large dog house. They have adjustable vents in the top and back, for air flow during the summer, or closed for rain or snow during the winter.

Don't put your miniature goats in something that is so small that it restricts air flow during the winter, as they can be subject to pneumonia.

CaliannG · #3 09/27/12, 08:26 PM

That looks like a goat condo!

I have Mini-Nubians, rather than NDs, but they are VERY...uhhh...well conditioned.

My, ummm, most well conditioned Mini-Nubian stands 22" at the withers, her head sits at about 26", and she is approximately 20" wide. So, if I were to make a "dog house" like stall for her, I would make it 3'x3', with an entrance that was 2' wide by 2 1/2' tall.

Minelson · #4 09/28/12, 06:43 AM

That is darling!! I want one! They will jump on top of it so when you put it up don't put it next to the fence or they will jump out

Dreamgoat Annie · #5 09/28/12, 07:41 AM

Wow, what a super dog house! Is it cedar? My goats like to chew cedar.

Modo and Spike are living in a large plastic dog house at the moment. Now that The White Sheep Family has vacated the adjoining area, they also have access to a good-size indoor sheep stall and they seem to prefer the dog house.

I tied it down using a big iron plate from John's old tractor as an anchor. If you live where it's windy, this is always a good idea. The high winds we get here have flipped goat- and sheep-size shelters 3 times in the last 10 years. No injuries but we've learned to fasten them down very securely.

Sue

Ford Zoo · #6 09/28/12, 08:33 AM

The door going into the pen for my ND's is 12" wide by 16" tall (I think it was previously a chicken door). My ND's are fat. I've also had a 125# boer use that door without problem when she decided she liked hanging out with the little girls more than the big ones.

Squeaky McMurdo · #7 09/28/12, 09:58 AM

The one pictured looks to have cedar siding, but I'm aware of the tendency of goats to like to nibble it so mine will be made out of pine and painted to waterproof it.

From what Julie said, I'm going to add a vent to the little back room so they have enough air flow.

Did you notice that these have a hingded roof for cleaning the inside? So if I need to check on a doe that has retreated to the back I can just lift it up.

My husband is an electrician so he can get pretty much any construction material for cost if not free from his jobsites...plus the former owners of our house built a deck so there's plenty of left over wood around. Next project will be a milkstand. Does the Fias Co Farm one fit NDs?

LoneStrChic23 · #8 09/28/12, 12:59 PM

When I had minis, I made the PVC milk stand from Philo Farms (google them for plans). I made mine bigger because my minis were bigger than the Nigerians.

You could google it & use the size as a guideline for building the stand out of wood...... I also thought the Philo Farms stand was WAY too short, so mine had longer legs.

BethW · #9 09/28/12, 02:30 PM

Cuuute house!

One thing I'd consider is that goats have a hierarchy and you're likely to find that the top goat (or two) are probably going to dominate the house, leaving the lowest goat on the totem pole out in the cold, or rain, or snow.

I have a three-sided shelter *inside* the barn for my three dwarf goats that's easily 8'x5'. I had a mental image of them all snuggled up in there together. Ha. I've never seen all three in there at once, even on the coldest night. They make the lowest goat sleep out in the middle of the horse stall we keep them in. I don't worry as they're all still well sheltered, but it'd be another story if they were outdoors.

You might want to consider providing two shelters to make sure everybody has a place to stay warm and safe.

Squeaky McMurdo · #10 09/28/12, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethW

Cuuute house!

One thing I'd consider is that goats have a hierarchy and you're likely to find that the top goat (or two) are probably going to dominate the house, leaving the lowest goat on the totem pole out in the cold, or rain, or snow.

I have a three-sided shelter *inside* the barn for my three dwarf goats that's easily 8'x5'. I had a mental image of them all snuggled up in there together. Ha. I've never seen all three in there at once, even on the coldest night. They make the lowest goat sleep out in the middle of the horse stall we keep them in. I don't worry as they're all still well sheltered, but it'd be another story if they were outdoors.

You might want to consider providing two shelters to make sure everybody has a place to stay warm and safe.

Yah, that's why I think I'll do the double. Each side would be divided into two "rooms" and there would be a solid wall in the middle.

I don't plan on having more than two goats long term. (I know, I know. Goat Math. Hehe)