The Goat Wall of Barna

Our latest completed project is the installation of a wall in our barn to expand the goat housing area. These ladies need to have more room, and to be able to get to the back door for access to their outdoor pen.

They will be getting more herdmates in the future, too, so we are getting prepared for those additions, and getting these girls accustomed to their new quarters in advance. They have a stall that existed in the barn when we bought our place:

However, the back door of the barn leading to their outdoor pen is several feet away, and while we want to let them choose when to enjoy the sunshine, we don’t want to give them access to the entire barn. So, we put up a 4′ wall yesterday to divide this particular section of the barn into two areas. The goats will have their stall and a larger area leading to the back door, and we will move all of the items that are currently in the newly expanded goat pen elsewhere. The stall will make a nice kidding area when that time comes.

George used a single shot powder hammer to drive some 2 x 6’s into the concrete floor and built a frame up from there with more 2 x 6. Then we used deck planking to create rails.

We finished the gate entry, and opened the stall so the girls could come and check it out.

We had hoped to make it a pretty open design, so that we could see in, and the goats had a view of who was coming into the barn. However.

The girls demonstrated to us that the gaps between the rails were, perhaps, a bit too wide. Oops.

So, today, I returned, circular saw, sawbucks, and drill in hand, and filled in the gaps.

We just need to get a latch installed tonight, and clean up the remaining storage items out of the pen area, and the girls will be able to roam freely in it, as well as having free choice access to the outdoor pen. I’ve been taking them on walks and out for recess in their pen, and that’s fun, but they should not have to be locked in their stall during the day when I’m not present. And soon, that won’t be necessary. Yay!

Of special note: if you are undertaking a similar project, I highly recommend installing the bottom planks first. Otherwise, you will be dealing with something along these lines:

When you are attempting to drive in a screw, it is no easy task to keep a firm grip on the drill when a little goat is trying to nibble your fingers. Equally distracting is when they insist on taste-testing your hair. So yes. Work from the bottom up.

Next on the agenda is the removal of an old dog kennel from this structure, which we intend to use for our new chicken house. We will also need to repair a crack in the concrete with some epoxy mortar, and insure the structural integrity of the roof. Once those items are checked off the list, we will add walls, a couple of windows, and a door, and Gonzo’s House of Foxy Fowl will be open for business.

And for a last word. The girls love their new spool toy that the very nice utility guys who are running new lines on our road dropped off for them!

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One response to “The Goat Wall of Barna”

  1. videotk Avatar
    videotk

    Very nice post! I feel like I have caught up on the goings on at your farm! I love all the photos! I signed into your site successfully.

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