Well we had a busy day. We finally sorted out some sort of temporary shelter for the goats. We put up plastic sheeting under the deck to act as a roof to keep off the rain and we put plastic sheeting up on two sides to keep the wind out. Hopefully this should keep the goats dry and if they need to be a bit warmer throughout the winter we can make a more comfy stall under there out of straw bales. Does this sound okay until we can build a better building????

By the way I have two goats. Lucy, age 9 months and Molly, age 5 months. They are finally getting used to the fenced yard and are eating up the weeds. They are also healed up nicely after being dehorned about a month ago.

-- anita (anitaholton@mindspring.com), September 30, 2001

Answers

Anita, make sure and cover, with chicken wire, or solid boards the plastic as high on the walls as they can reach standing on their rear legs. Plastic ingested by a rumenient will kill it. As they grow cover it higher and higher, also plastic will eventually dry out and shatter, leaving you with small pieces of plastic everywhere. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 30, 2001.

That should work as long as the goats don't attack the sides. We found that pallets make a very effective goat shelter, especially if you have enough to seal a few of the slat cracks while leaving some for ventilation.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 30, 2001.

Anita, I'm glad to hear that your girls healed up well. I'm afraid I'll have to be a little pessimistic about your shelter. My girls would have a field day tearing the plastic apart because they could (no other reason needed). I think I'd go for plywood sides if you can. They probably can't get to the roof, so that should be fine. The strawbale insulation may still be a good idea, particularly on the north side (or the side of prevailing winds if the house is on the north side). I have used heavy-duty builders felt as a wind break before at a farm I used work on. The goats left that alone. I have no idea where you would get it or what the cost would be as compared to plywood. I know that you can get damaged pieces of plywood at some lumberyards for fractions of the original cost. Good luck!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), September 30, 2001.

I was thinking the same thing about the plastic. I have built a shelter temporarily for a goat under a deck one time and it worked okay..temporarily. Pallets or used wood would be a good choice to build a little shed as soon as you can. It only needs to be closed on 3 sides But..the plastic..sorry to say..won't last long with goats. Good luck!!

-- Jenny Pipes (Auntjenny6@aol.com), October 01, 2001.

Hi Anita,

I have to agree with the above answers about plastic. I have my bucks out behind the barn and used a tarp to cover half to provide some shade, and it was shredded within a week. Better safe than sorry.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), October 01, 2001.

Anita, the plastic really will not last very long sep. if you live in a windy area like I do. I have had good success with tarps over cattle panels. You need to get a good quality tarp and fasten it down well. Glad to hear the doelings have adjusted to their new home.

-- karen in Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), October 01, 2001.

Hi Anita, We use porta huts (www.port-a-huts.com) for all our livestock, goats, sheep, cows and pigs. In the winter, we put lots of straw in them to nest in, and if it's really cold, we stack straw bales around the huts. CJ

-- CJ (cjtinkle@getgoin.net), October 01, 2001.