Things You'll Need
- Concrete
- Framing lumber or concrete block
- Roofing material
Instructions
Find an area suitable for the milk shed, preferably 100 feet from feeding racks. Consider the distance needed to transport the goat from the yard and the milk to storage.
Lay out the area you intend to use. Consider the number of goats you intend to milk at once. The tiniest shed requires room for a goat and a person, or at least 6 by 6 feet.
Pour a smooth concrete pad as both foundation and floor. To encourage cleanliness, the floor should remain free of straw, hay, feed and litter.
Erect the walls by stacking concrete blocks and mortar, or making a frame wall, putting plywood on studs 24 inches on center. The height inside should accommodate the tallest person using the shed. Avoid building short doorways which require ducking.
Frame the roof using at least 2 x 6 inch lumber. Attach a standard shingle roof over plywood decking, or for economy use corrugated roofing material screwed on slats every 12 inches. Clear plastic roofing material will allow light in the shed.
Build air flow into the design with high vents or windows, careful to avoid direct drafts in the milking area.
Build a raised platform from wood or metal. At least 1 foot off the ground will allow you to reach the udder and teats easily. A keyhole stanchion allows a goat to feed during milking. This keeps her still during the experience.
Consider a shelf for your milking tools: cups for testing milk and cleaning the teats and feed storage. Install a hook on the wall for the stainless steel milk bucket. It would be unfortunate to lose a day's milk to a wayward hoof.
Optional: Install a sink for washing up before and after milking.