Winterizing a Shelter

It was a very pretty day for working outside!  So I decided to winterize a shelter for our bucks that was in dire need of a makeover.

Here the shelter is before anything was done to it.  It was like a wind tunnel.

Always keep your hay rope! Comes in handy for projects like these.

First, I hung a thick quilt on the open side, cutting 4 slits in the top, then stringing hay rope through over the roof, and attaching it to the other side. Yes, it's pretty okie-looking, but it works :)

Attached hay rope.

Then, I cut two slits in the sides, and wrapped the blanket around the poles.

The side is done.

 I started on the wall by digging about a 3" trench, then setting a board inside the trench. Then I attached wire to the inside of the board, and nailed a piece of metal on the outside of the board, leaving a space in between the wire and metal wall. I used the little space to put insulation in (junk blankets and fabric). Then I added a support beam at the end.

Another view of the wall.

I added a coroplast board to finish the wall. I put a pallet on the side behind the quilt, and leaned a pole up to secure it.  Done! It's pretty warm inside already :)

Jasper, already enjoying the shelter

Stay warm!
~Hannah

Weekend projects

WOW is has been SO hot outside!  The UV index was 110 yesterday and today it's 105, so you can just imagine...working outside can be exhausting.  Thankfully, our little ranch has accomplished a lot in the last few days!

SUNDAY July 10th
My dad was able to dig 4 holes for our new meat rabbit barn...and considering the fact that we are in "rocky soil" country, that is a BIG accomplishment!!

I got to trim all 17 goat's hooves yesterday and groom them all some.  I also started two new compost piles in my bins, since the compost I started back in April is done doin' it's thing and now the rich, dark soil is in the garden, feeding our plants.

After I was done with all of that, I decided to re-take all the goat's pictures and do more "professional", show type pics.  Here are all of the pics I took yesterday...

MERCYFARMS JC INDY

OAK WHISPER KWS ATHENA

MERCYFARMS MO2 OHARA

COSO FARMS RCBY HOLLY

OZARK HIGHLANDS MAUREEN OHARA

7 THUNDERS STORMY GAIL

UHOH BLUSH NOISETTE

7 THUNDERS COCOA CASCADE

MERCYFARMS SNICKERS CREAMSWIRL

7 THUNDERS LS WILD DIXIE

UHOH OREO DANCY PANTS

7 THUNDERS BABY DREAM BLOSSOM

MERCYFARMS BROWNIE SUMMIT

7 THUNDERS CLOUDY DELIGHT

JUST BECAUSE DC FUDGE BROWNIE (took this pic a couple days ago)

If you'd like more info on the goats above, please go to the "Does" page...Click Here

I'm also selling the NuMancha wether.  If anyone is interested in him, please contact me at:  bannerbonanza@yahoo.com  -  Here are pics of him...

MONDAY July 11th

I think I might know why our breeding season didn't go very well this year.  We own a buck, but he's about 10 miles away being housed at a friends house...so we would take our does over there when they were in heat.  Unfortunately, I heard that they can lose their heat on the drive there, and that might explain why the buck wasn't interested at times :)  So, since that didn't go over very well, we built a buck pen on our farm, that way the does don't have to travel very far and be all stressed out when the time comes to get bred.  We had already made the pen, and all I needed to get done was get a shelter up, but I haven't had the materials to do it.  Today, I finally mustered up some materials to build the temporary buck shelter and now the pen is finished and ready to house a buck!  Praise God!

Here are some pics of the shelter and pen...and yes, it's very "okie", but hey, if it houses a goat and keeps it dry for a couple of weeks, it's fine with me!

Inside of the shelter

I built it with 3 pallets, a piece of particle board and some junk sheet metal I had laying around.  It was pretty simple to build and almost free  :)  I'm planning on putting a tarp around the outside when it rains, but for now it's gonna be nice and "airy".

Stay cool!

~Hannah

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