How to Build a Portable Goat Shelter

Many goat breeders have stopped sheltering animals in traditional barns to avoid crowding, which leads to respiratory infections. Fleece-producing and most other goats primarily need protection from wind, rain and snow during cold seasons. Portable shelters, which also provide summer shade, work well as year-round shelter. Goat fanciers have devised a wide variety of homemade shelters using materials close at hand. Mountain Hollow Farm, a small cashmere goat venture in Tennessee, designed a simple, open-ended goat ̶0;tunnel̶1; that will cost you $150 and take you a few hours to build. You can make this shelter yourself, but setting it up will require the help of another person.

Things You'll Need

  • (3) Cattle panels, each 16 feet x 52 inches
  • (1) 9 x 12 waterproof tarp
  • (4) 5 foot T-posts
  • (2) 16 ft 2 x 4s
  • (1) Roll 1/2 inch metal strapping with holes
  • 1 inch or 1 1/2 inch outdoor screws
  • Fence wire
  • T-post clips
  • Twine
  • Hand saw
  • Hammer
  • Pliers
  • Screwdrivers
  • Bolt cutters
  • Tin snips
  • T-post driver
  • Work gloves
  • Safety goggles
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make a closed rectangle out of the cattle panels. Use bolt cutters to shorten each to 12 feet long (or less, if desired).

    • 2

      Cut each 2 x 4 down to 14 feet. Cut the metal strapping into 2-inch lengths.

    • 3

      Lay cattle panels on the ground, long side by long side, and attach the 52-inch ends to one of the 2 x 4s using metal strapping and screws. Six inches of 2 x 4 should extend beyond the panel at each end. Attach the other 2 x 4 to the opposite side.

    • 4

      Firmly attach panels in three or four places. Make two lengthwise connecting seams using fence wires and pliers.

    • 5

      Drive two of the T-posts into the ground 12 1/2 feet apart to establish the supports at one end of the goat tunnel.

    • 6

      Set the cattle panels on the ground with one of the 2 x 4s next to the T-posts. The 2 x 4s should be under the cattle panels facing what will be the inside of the tunnel.

    • 7

      Push the other 2 x 4 to the inside of the other T-post, bending the middle of the cattle panels up to form the tunnel. Do this carefully so the bending panels don̵7;t slip and spring back to hit you. Beth Bohnert points out, "It is extremely important to build these tunnels with sides that are nearly vertical so the goats cannot climb on them."

    • 8

      Have someone hold this end of the tunnel in place. Drive in the other two T-posts to support the opposite tunnel opening. Alternatively, install all the T-posts first then bend the entire tunnel into place.

    • 9

      Connect panels to the supports with T-post clips. Drape tarp over the tunnel; the T-posts should be just beyond the tarp. Tie the tarp to the cattle panels with twine.