How to Build a Calf House

Quality calf housing should give your calf draft-free shade, a dry bed and adequate ventilation. So says David Pace, assistant extension livestock specialist at Oklahoma State University. A 4-by-8-foot calf house or hutch is a simple three-sided housing option for young calves that provides these basic housing requirements. It also allows you to minimize disease spread between your calves and to keep track of feed intake. Using exterior plywood and 2-by-4-inch lumber helps reduce your initial costs.

Things You'll Need

  • 3/8-inch sheathing-grade exterior plywood (four 4-by-8-foot sheets)
  • Seven 8-foot pressure treated 2x4 boards.
  • Measuring tape
  • Carpenter's pencil
  • Jigsaw
  • 2-inch galvanized nails
  • Hammer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare your lumber. Measure and mark one sheet of plywood, cutting it into two equal 4-by-4-foot squares with your jigsaw. You will use one for the back of your calf house. Measure and mark three of your 2-by-4-inch boards, commonly known as 2x4s. Cut each into equal 4-foot boards (producing six 4-foot boards in all).

    • 2

      Construct the bottom framing for your calf hutch. Place two 8-foot 2x4s and one 4-foot 2x4 on the ground in a U-shape. Make sure the boards are resting on one of their narrow, 2-inch sides before you nail them together.

    • 3

      Notch the vertical framing so it will fit against the bottom and top framing. Cut a single vertical 2-inch-by-4-inch notch out of both ends of four of the remaining 4-foot boards with your jigsaw. Make sure you remove both notches from the same side of each board. Fit one notch on one of the boards against the inside edge of one corner of the bottom framing and nail the board in place vertically. Repeat this process for each of the other three notched boards. You should now have the bottom U-shape on the ground with four vertical boards rising from each corner.

    • 4

      Construct the top framing for your calf house. Using the remaining two 8-foot boards and the single remaining 4-foot board, construct another U-shape along the tops of your vertical framing. Match the boards into the notches on the vertical framing and nail them into place one at a time. You should now have the complete framework for your calf house in place.

    • 5

      Construct the sides and back of your calf hutch. Nail two of the full sheets of plywood onto the sides of your calf hutch support boards. Nail the half sheet of plywood onto the back of your calf hutch.

    • 6

      Put the top of your calf hutch in place. Carefully lift the remaining sheet of plywood and place it on the top of your calf house, matching the edges with the sides before you nail it in place.