I'm in the design phase of creating a barn for dairy goats. It is designed to be rather compact but be able to store adequate bedding and winter ration for two dairy goats (and their kids), have a drive-in bay for unloading from a pickup truck, and to have two 72 sq ft stalls. In the summer, one stall will be used for the goats, and the other for 2-4 pigs. In the winter after the pigs are harvested, I will be able (during inclement weather) to herd the goats into the second stall so I can clean the first without putting them out in the elements. The drive-in bay is between the stalls and the
straw mow. A ladder goes up into the
feed loft from this central bay. I designed it so that the straw mow, drive-in bay, and feed loft are build of half-dovetail notched logs, and the stalls and roof are timber framed. The log portion has a gabled roof, and the timber framed section has a shed roof that attaches to the wall of the log portion on the gable end. There is a window above the shed roof in the gable proper that admits light. The roofing material of choice is tile. I could be persuaded to another material, but clay is abundant and ceramic is durable if you don't let
water pool. I intend to collect rainwater off the roof to give the animals. A possible add on in the form of a lean-to, is a place to start chicks before they are big enough to go in the chickshaw.
"Of all the beings that exist, man is only one. Among all the Millions of men on Earth, those that live by farming are only a small portion. smaller still are those that have office or wealth and ride in carriages. Of all these, a man on a carriage is nothing but a fleck of hair on a horse's flank."
~Chuang Tzu
