How to Choose a Livestock Shelter
Most livestock can usually handle rainy, windy or cold temperatures. But if you live in a climate where snow falls and temperatures plummet in the winter, you need to provide your animals protection from harsh weather. A three sided shed is a great way to give animals protection and is far less expensive than an enclosed barn. To help you choose the best shelter for your critters, keep some of these criteria in mind.
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Instructions
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Consider placement. Choose well drained, high ground to prevent the floor from flooding or turning into a mud pit.
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Face the shelter away from prevailing winds. Also consider snow drifting patterns as you don't want your shed buried in a snowdrift.
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Determine what kind of animals will use the shed and give each animal a space about four times their body size. A shelter that's too small will allow an aggressive lead animal to force the rest of the herd to stand out into the cold.
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Cover the openings with carpet or other heavy fabric in regions of extreme cold. Be sure the livestock can push through it to enter or exit and that it doesn't completely reduce airflow. Ventilation is critical for allowing fresh air inside the shelter while allowing harmful gases to escape.
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Choose a shelter large enough that you have room to add panels to make a stall if needed. If you have a sick or injured animal they will need to be separated from the other livestock.
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Tips & Warnings
Most livestock will survive with a simple windbreak. But a three sided shed will not only keep them dry and out of the wind, it will help the animals avoid some miserable nights.
