Raising Pygora Goats: Chapter 2, The Barn
If you missed Chapter 1 - all about food and fencing - you can read that now or save it for later. In this next chapter of my series about raising Pygora goats, we’re going to cover one of my favorite topics: the barn.
Unlike cattle, which can be turned out to pasture with a little light tree cover, goats must have shelter or they will not survive. A goat that is wet and cold is likely to get pneumonia, which can be fatal. They do not like water and will make a run for the barn when rain arrives. In the winter, they also hide from wind and prefer a shelter that will protect them from a windy day.
Having said all that, a small herd of goats can get along just fine in a shed with four walls and an open doorway. I found plans for the sort of simple run in shed I’m referring to on Etsy: check it out here. But before you run out to buy materials, you might want to consider some additional factors. (Here’s a little inspiration from the barn my husband and I built in North Carolina before we moved to Ohio.)
Considerations for your barn:
Storage - One common mistake made by people new to farm animals is to forget about food storage. The beautiful mountain barn above was a 16x20 rectangle with the bottom providing goat shelter and the top providing hay storage. Loft hay storage can be taxing, for lifting and hauling, but it worked for us at the time and could store 100 square bales. You’ll also want a spot for a food can or other feed storage and space for medicines, leads and other supplies.
Water - In my herd, 5 adult goats drink about 6 gallons of water a day. So, either you will want a spigot nearby or you will want your barn close enough to carry water day and night from your house. For this NC barn, we had a lengthy hose than ran from an outdoor spigot near the back door. Keep in mind that many outdoor spigots are useless in freezing temperatures, so you may still need a way to carry water in the winter months. You can also use heated stock tanks, but in my experience goats strongly prefer clean water. If they poop in it they simply won’t touch it, so you’ll need to change it regularly.
Ventilation - I live in a beautiful part of the country with four very distinct seasons. This week there will be snow and it may not get above freezing. Come mid July, it will be 90 degrees in the shade. Which means, a four-sided metal building will not likely be the spot to rest as a goat, especially a fluffy Pygora goat. With that in mind, I recommend thinking both about reducing wind in the winter and circulating air in the summer. Windows that close (but can’t be reached by a goat) can work, and having an open shady patio off your barn with open sides is also a good idea. I love my large sliding barn doors here in Ohio. They were made for horses but work great for producing the right amount of protection or ventilation.
My Ohio barn features large sliding barn doors. Pro tip: inside your stalls, consider adding benches or platforms. Goats love to sleep elevated and have something to hide under.
That covers the barn basics - storage, water, and ventilation. Having electricity for lights and for sheering is an absolute plus if you can swing it. If you decide to get into breeding, you’ll also need to consider multiple stalls to separate pregnant does when needed and/or kidding pens. Any Pygora Breeders Association member would be glad to talk you through it when you’re ready. You can find my contact information on the About Our Farm page if you want to talk it through!
Next we’ll cover Pygora fleece types, fleece maintenance, and sheering, so stay tuned.