The Frugal Homesteader Pt. 4 (Small Animal Shelter)
Today's article in the series “The Frugal Homesteader” is a DIY answer to a quick and easy animal shelter. This shelter can be made for animals small and large and it can be modified, scaled up in size, or turned into a shed or greenhouse. The possibilities are endless. And, best of all, it is insanely affordable, especially if you have a few things like pallets already lying around. You might even have enough materials lying around to complete this project without going out to buy anything at all!
If you've read the previous posts in this series, you know that I have goats. Well, If you've read my name @goatgarden you've probably figured that one out. And, you may or may not realize that we are actually pretty new to the whole goat thing. As mentioned in The Frugal Homesteader Part 3 (Electric Net Fence), we are using the electric net fence to put the goats where we want them with the ability to move them around as desired. Then we put them in the barn for the evening, safe and sound. The problem we were having was the thunderstorms popping up, sometimes without much warning. Having no shelter for the goats required us to get them into the barn during the day to wait out the storm. Then, back outside when the storm passed. This can be very inconvenient when you have other things to do, or worse, you are away from the homestead to run errands, go to church, etc.
Keep It Simple
My goal was simple. Make something affordable and functional. I already have the pens in the barn, and I feel better having the goats in the building at night. I just needed something to keep them dry when the rain showers come out of nowhere. Goats don't need much, but they do need protection from the elements.
Materials
So, I headed to the local farm store with my 9 year old daughter, who is always up for a trip to the farm store, where I bought a 16 ft. cattle panel for around $20 USD. I also bought a small package of curved pipe strap sections (made for securing metal pipe to a structure) for $1.99. Then we were out the door and headed home. By the way, if you don't have a long flatbed trailer to lay the panels flat, you can arch them in your pickup or trailer and transport them without causing damage to them.
Once back at the Garden of the Goats, we gathered a few more items together.
6x8 tarp (previously purchased at WalMart for $2.66)
Pallet
Screws (8 was all I needed)
Fencing staples
Zip ties
Hammer and screw gun (as with nearly every project around here)
The Process
The first step was to cut the cattle panel in half, setting one half aside. Then I had my daughter hold the panel section up while I secured it to the side rail of the pallet with the pipe strap sections and screws. (Pipe strap is not a secure or permanent fastener. I just used this to keep the panel in place until I could get the fence staples hammered in.)
The second step was to arch the section of cattle panel and secure it to the opposite side, again using pipe strap sections. I then secured the cattle panel with fencing staples on both sides. Note: Be careful while securing the panel. Wear safety glasses, gloves, hardhats, and all of that safety stuff. There is a bit of tension in an arched cattle panel. You could seriously lose an eye if it gets away from you.
Next, I found a piece of welded wire fence and attached it to one end of my arched structure. This step isn't entirely necessary, but it did give something to which I could attach the excess tarp. If only making one shelter, you could use the other section of cattle panel.
The final step was to cover the cattle panel with the tarp and attach it to the panel with small zip ties.
And, there you have it. A small shelter that should keep my little guys dry. It was simple and affordable, not to mention giving my daughter some ownership in the project. The awesome thing about this type of structure, however, is that anyone with a little creativity can do a whole lot more. I have seen sheds built with two or more panels and a little lumber, greenhouses, chicken houses, and the list goes on. A quick internet search will give you all kinds of ideas. I will leave you with a picture of my Wisteria which is growing on a trellis built with the same idea.
What about You?
Have you been inspired? What will you make?
If this has helped you, please Upvote, Comment and Resteem! Thanks!
-Kerry
We've made so many of these things. They make great chicken/duck feed shelters as well.
We do it slightly differently though. We make a 2x4 frame and drill 1/2" pilot holes (3) with a speed bore on either side. And then insert one end of a length of 1/2" PVC pipe and bend it over and put it in the hole drilled on the opposite 2x4.
Secure the pipe at both ends with a short deck screw and then wrap it in a tarp. For that, though, my father-in-law found a supply of old billboard banners that are really tough.
Those things were a godsend. I love the using of cattle panels though. Great idea.
We have those and t-posts and build temporary fencing and paddocks in no time, like our current 'kidding paddock.' and to wall off garden from the ducks... hog panels can work for that and to keep baby goats away from sweet potatoes.. :)
Love your name.
It's amazing the things one can make with normal everyday things, without having to pay out the nose for a premade (often flimsy) item.
@goatgarden made a small hoop house for our garden with pvc and plastic sheeting-worked great. I need to write down all things you listed above for future reference!
Thanks. It's the name of my blog and (soon) my newsletter service.
Using PVC would probably cost less, too. I'll have to remember that.
Yeah, you can make an 8x8 shelter for like $20 if you have the tarp, which we would reuse over and over until they died.
Simple things like this are what make homesteading success. I particularly liked how you involved your daughter in the process. She does have a " stake " in it now. Sort of reminds of Steem...
She likes to be involved. Of 4 children, she is the one that thinks like I do and likes some of the same things. I'm glad you liked the post. Thanks for commenting!
Love it especially the greenhouse idea
To your last picture, we have yard-long (asparagus) beans set up using the cattle panel this way. Except, we planted it so that it covers the big bay window on our south facing living room wall to help shade it.
In the morning I go out to milk the goats and pick green beans for them as treats as well as for ourselves. All of our excess production goes to the local farmer's market on saturday morning to offset costs and allow us to eat for nearly free.
It's a system that eventually becomes self-sustaining. The asparagus beans are fantastic, love full-sun and need very little care. I live in North Florida so the growing season for them is long and we get like $4/lb for them at the market.
They also can well. But, for long-term storage we blanch them and vacuum pack them to pull out all winter long. Saute with garlic, onions, soy sauce and pepper with some butter.
Good Eats that! And I can get them to cut down my air conditioning bill.
That's an impressive way to use many things together for multiple positive outcomes. We love yard long beans and I have some started in my garden. Good idea to treat the goats to a snack!
have you seen my latest post?
https://steemit.com/homestead/@goldgoatsnguns/adventures-in-hobby-farming-the-cattle-panel
I have now. Wow you really DO put them to use!