Small Livestock Pen

:: Small Livestock Pen ::

Our homestead is teaming with animals!   We don’t have all that we’d like, but we are adding to our numbers all the time.  I think an earmark of a quality homestead is an increase that’s responsible.  Animals shouldn’t outnumber the homesteaders’ ability to feed and shelter them well.

Shelter has been somewhat of a nemesis from day one!  Our place had no outbuildings. Zero. Zip.  That’s been a joy. Well, eventually it really was a joy.  My husband is the undaunted hero. In three short years he has built a horse barn, a chicken coop, five rabbit hutches, and now a pen and shelter for a Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat!

{Sedona is very happy with her new home!}

Most of the smaller outbuildings he has used reclaimed materials.  Sometimes he can find wood used for shipping products at his job, and they are all too happy to see it go somewhere other than the dumpster.

This small livestock pen was one of the easiest things he has put together.  (Notice  {above} I’m taking pictures, and he’s doing all the work!)  No, really — I did help wherever he needed me!

We used four cattle panels that are 16′ long and secured them with steel fenceposts. These panels sell for $20 each at a local supply. We sunk two wooden posts for securing the gate hinges and latch…. and our favorite type of gate to use referred to as a pipe gate which is very affordable as well!

Voila!

The shelter on the inside of the pen was made from a pallet frame and we painted some very coarse pressed particle board with an exterior paint. The base is a pallet as well that is topped with hardware wire.  Therefore, the particle board is not exposed to the ground, and there is plenty of ventilation in her little house! She has a south-facing entrance door that we’ll have to put some sort of rubber flap with a split up the center for this winter. The roof has a piece of aluminum roof sheeting on it.

This cattle panel has opened up a whole bunch of possibilities for us! Even if using it as a framework, it is very strong and really affordable!  We’re so happy with this solution!

Do you have any challenges as a homesteader or farmer? What are some of the ways you’ve been creative in your solutions?  We want to learn from you!