If you're a small farmer looking for cheap goat shelter plans, you're in luck. You don't have to spend a fortune to keep your goats happy, healthy, and safe from predators. Here are our favorite frugal goat shelters that will provide your goats with a safe and comfortable place to live.
Table of Contents
Why Is It Important To Have A Goat Barn?
A goat barn is essential for extending goats' lifespan by protecting them from harsh weather, providing a clean and dry environment, and reducing stress and injuries. A well-maintained barn supports overall health and well-being, which contributes to a longer, healthier life for goats.
What Can Goat Shelters Be Made From?
Goat shelters can be made from a variety of materials including metal, pallets, plywood, and much more. Some goat shelters are two-stories with windows and others have had a tarp on top. At the end of the day, goats don’t much care for their shelter as long as it covers their basic needs. Their requirements can even be boiled down to as little as essential features for shelter.
Some frugal goat shelters include repurposed calf hutches, dog houses, or greenhouses.
What Can a Shelter Floor be Made of?
While different goat farmers will say different things, many swear by dirt! It is urine absorbent and cost efficient. This being said, a bedding is crucial such as straw of saw dust (4 inches).
Our first shelter shown below initially had a linoleum floor, which we hoped would make bedding changes easy. However, this flooring almost immediately came up, and served little to no benefit. Due to this our floor is currently subfloor we had leftover from our house renovations. This has served us well, but if I could do it again I would prefer dirt as it allows for easier drainage of urine.
Where To Put A Goat Barn?
Goats (or at least ours) tend to get out of their pens and enclosures. Goats also can come with the farm smell, even despite your best efforts to keep it clean. Due to this keeping them away from the house and eating areas is ideal.
If you intend to use their manure for a garden or orchard, make sure to either put them out by these for easy transport, or have easy accommodations to move manure for regular barn cleanings.
Another consideration is noise. Our goats are not particularly noisy unless it is feeding time. If your breed of goat is, perhaps farther from the house is ideal.
Ease of getting transporting water. Trust me, you do not want to be carting several pails of water a day to your goats in the heart of winter. Ensure it is near a water source, invest in long hoses, or collect rainwater to mitigate this issue.
What Animals Can Share a Shelter with Goats?
Goats can share a shelter with a variety of other animals, provided certain considerations are taken into account.
Sheep are often housed with goats since they have similar feeding habits and are of comparable size, generally coexisting peacefully.
Cows can also share a shelter with goats, especially in larger barns, though it's crucial to provide goats with a separate, safe space due to the cows' much larger size.
Chickens are another animal that can cohabit with goats, as they often help by eating insects and pests around the shelter; however, maintaining cleanliness is important to prevent disease transmission, and care must be taken to ensure chickens don’t access goat feed.
Donkeys can be good companions for goats, often helping protect them from predators, but they can sometimes be territorial, so their interactions should be monitored.
Horses can share a shelter with goats, though the size difference requires careful management to ensure the safety and well-being of all animals involved.
We once considered keeping our chickens with our goats. But after some research and seeing that goats will accidentally kill chickens and eat chicken food to the point of their own fatality, we opted against it.
Our Lessons Learned Building a Goat Shelter
The key lessons we took away from making our own goat shelter were a few things. Our barn was not expensive, less than $300 as we used leftover materials such as 2x4's, subfloors, and more from our house renovations. Our cheap goat shelter has lasted us three years including a very harsh winter.
These leftover materials from renovating our home were primarily subfloors we utilized for the walls, thinking it would be thick and tall, providing adequate protection from predators. This was not only affordable but worked as we anticipated to keep our goats safe from the weather.
Our three full grown Nigerian dwarfs goats are rather small. I think we could comfortable fit 1, more goat in there for a total of 4 to in about 32 square feet. Note smaller goats can fit down to 8 square feet per goat.
We did try using vinyl stick on tile for the floor to save costs and keep the wood floor in good shape, however our floor was not one continuous piece, so it peeled up after enough urine penetrated the cracks.
If you are new to goats, then let me be the first to tell you they are not clean animals and 9/10 mornings they pee in front of me as I open the door.
One feature we do like is the dutch door. It allows us to open the top for ventilation, while the bottom is closed to keep the goats out. Additionally, it allows them easy access in and out without allowing the door to move in the wind.
For other key considerations and essential features for building we have provided a resource for your convenience.
DIY Goat Shelter from Pallets
One affordable option for a goat shelter is to use pallets. Pallets can be easily sourced for free or at a low cost, and can be used to create a sturdy and functional shelter.
The process involves arranging the pallets to form the walls and then securing them together making a 3 sided shelter, with additional pallets or materials used for the roof. This shelter can be customized with a tarp or metal roofing for added weather protection, providing a simple yet effective space that keeps your goats safe and comfortable.
This open design provides excellent ventilation and shade, allowing for good airflow and keeping the goats cool. To maximize the shelter's effectiveness in hot weather, ensure the open side faces away from prevailing winds and provide some form of shade or cover to protect against direct sunlight. Additionally, you can add a roof to shield from rain while maintaining the open sides for ventilation.
These frugal goat shelters made from pallets can be used in winter, but it may require additional modifications based on your area to ensure it provides adequate warmth and protection. Insulating the walls with materials like straw bales, foam board, or even thick tarps can help retain heat. You'll also want to seal any gaps between the pallets to prevent drafts, and consider adding a solid, weatherproof roof to keep out snow and rain. With these enhancements, the shelter can offer a cozy and safe environment for your goats during the winter months.
Winter Goat Shelter Plans (10x12)
This 10x12 goat shelter is spacious enough to comfortably house a small herd and can be designed to keep goats warm during winter. Insulation may be added to the walls with materials like straw bales or foam board; this along with a solid roof and a windbreak on the sides, will help retain heat.
Protect your goats from the elements with these easy-to-follow 10 x 12 goat shelter plans.
Cheap Goat Shelter Plan (8x10)
These plans were our inspiration for our goat shelter including the slanted roof.
This well-ventilated goat shelter is designed to allow for continuous airflow, ensuring fresh air circulates throughout the space. This helps maintain a healthy environment by reducing humidity and preventing the buildup of harmful gases.
This 8 x 10 goat shelter plans are perfect for any backyard farmer.
Large Inexpensive Goat Shelter
A large goat shelter with a dedicated storage section provides ample space for both the goats and essential feed and supplies. The storage section ensures that supplies are conveniently accessible while keeping the living area organized and free from clutter.
In our next goat shelter I would prioritize keeping hay and straw nearby, it is currently a several hundred feet away in a shed. This admittedly doesn't sound that far, but in 3 feet of snow in the dead of winter it feels much more difficult.
This 10x14 goat shelter plans are perfect for keeping your goats protected from the elements and storing their essentials.
A Frame Goat Shelter
This 3-page Goat A-Frame Shelter guide provides a comprehensive list of materials and step-by-step instructions for building an A-frame goat shelter. It offers a cost-effective solution, allowing you to construct a sturdy and functional shelter quickly. The guide focuses on using affordable materials and a straightforward design, making it ideal for those looking to create a frugal yet reliable shelter for their goats.
Final Thoughts
There are a variety of materials and considerations when making and placing a goat shelter. With this guide you will have all the information you need and plans to make informed decisions!
Learn More
Raising Goats Guide: Ready to embark on your goat-raising journey? This comprehensive guide is your go-to resource for all things goat-related. From housing and feeding to breeding and health care, we've got you covered!
Tips For Keeping Your Goats Cool and Comfortable in the Summer Heat: As temperatures rise during the summer months, it's important to ensure that your goats are comfortable and safe from heat-related illnesses. With a few simple measures, you can help keep your goats cool and healthy during the hottest months of the year.
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