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Goat Shelters
by Gary Pfalzbot
About the Author
Housing and shelter for goats is as important a topic as any other goat related topic. Why? Simply because a goat needs shelter to keep them healthy. Poor or no sheltering almost always means that a goat will suffer. From my experience and from what others have told me, a goat can basically survive most types of weather as long as they can be out of the rain or the wind. Certain breeds of goats can withstand temperatures to nearly 60 below zero! This is mainly due to their hair being hollow. Of course, at 60 below zero, just about any animal is going to at risk and care should be taken to provide at least some type of warmth or relief from sweltering temperatures as it is the humane thing to do.
There are many approaches to building a goat shelter; from simple to complex, cheap to expensive. Primarily a person who is considering building a goat shelter should first consider the overall environment. Warmer year round climates won't require as much insulation as the climate that is on the colder side year round. Practicality also should be considered. If you have a few goats, you won't need to build them a 5,000 square foot mansion. Some of the prefab "shelters" that are available can be found at places like Lowe's or Home Depot. While purchasing a prefab unit might be tempting, it may not offer everything that your goats will ultimately need for a shelter.
In reading through the articles here, you will get a good idea of the do's and don'ts of goat shelters, and get a firm understanding of the basics should you decide to construct a shelter based upon your goats needs. I prefer to think of goat shelters much in the same manner of houses for humans. While some are definitely built upon the same style, nearly all houses are different in some respect. Don't be afraid to use your constructive imagination. But definitely be afraid of not providing a good shelter for your goats!
We are currently seeking pictures of various goat shelters in use. If you have some pictures you'd like to share that others just starting out might learn from, please email gary@goatworld.com
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About the author: Gary Pfalzbot is a Service Connected Disabled Veteran and the web master of GoatWorld as well as some other web sites. He has raised goats over the years, been involved with 4-H (as a young boy) and currently resides in Colorado where he and his wife Pam raise a few breeds of goats and other animals, and primarily author the GoatWorld web site to continue to inform, educate, and promote the industry.
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