Anchoring goat pens

[Jlblake]

I just built two goat pens. One is 8x8 and the other is 24x8...both are about 7' tall in the front. I didn't want to put the posts in the ground because I plan to move these occasionally. I had planned to anchor them with augers but thought I should reach out here to ask for your input. How would you anchor movable three wall animal pens?

They are typical structures. 4x4 posts, 2x4 frame. I used R-panels for sides and roof.

Thank you!

 

[Sheldon Hamblin]

I just built two goat pens. One is 8x8 and the other is 24x8...both are about 7' tall in the front. I didn't want to put the posts in the ground because I plan to move these occasionally. I had planned to anchor them with augers but thought I should reach out here to ask for your input. How would you anchor movable three wall animal pens?

They are typical structures. 4x4 posts, 2x4 frame. I used R-panels for sides and roof.

Thank you!

I’ve raised dairy goats for over 40 years. What kind of goats are yours? Are these pens to be used at night? How many in each pen?

 

[Jlblake]

I’ve raised dairy goats for over 40 years. What kind of goats are yours? Are these pens to be used at night? How many in each pen?

Mine are mostly Boer goats. I have a couple new Kiko bucks. I keep my herd around 30-40 but I'm new to it....just bought the place in March. My goats currently sleep in a three wall shelter. It is enclosed in the pasture but they aren't locked in the pen nightly. So far we haven't had any coyote issues. The previous owner had non-guardian dogs that he kept at the house, a couple hundred yards away. Not sure why there haven't been any coyotes but I saw my first one on game cam this weekend.

As far as the anchors, just don't want a huge wind to pick them up. Must be a better way than spending a couple hundred dollars on anchor augers.

Bottom line, I have a lot to learn so I'm all ears. Thanks

 

[Sheldon Hamblin]

Mine are mostly Boer goats. I have a couple new Kiko bucks. I keep my herd around 30-40 but I'm new to it....just bought the place in March. My goats currently sleep in a three wall shelter. It is enclosed in the pasture but they aren't locked in the pen nightly. So far we haven't had any coyote issues. The previous owner had non-guardian dogs that he kept at the house, a couple hundred yards away. Not sure why there haven't been any coyotes but I saw my first one on game cam this weekend.

As far as the anchors, just don't want a huge wind to pick them up. Must be a better way than spending a couple hundred dollars on anchor augers.

Bottom line, I have a lot to learn so I'm all ears. Thanks

Ok, so you are referring to three wall sheds?
I’ve never used anything temporary like that, but I suppose you could drive stakes into the ground, and attach cables to the 4X4’s. I think the goats would chew rope.

 

[EddieWalker]

instead of anchoring it, why not add weight to it? Build a couple of inside corner shelfs and put a 5 gallon bucket full of gravel on each shelf. Or just put a sack of concrete on the roof at each corner. Let it harden and you can lift them off when you want to move it.

 

[weldingisfun]

Just curious, but why would you want to move them around? The weights, suggested by Eddie Walker, should work just fine. Seems to me you run the risk of damage by moving them, especially the 24X8. And, regarding the coyotes, we have been raising Boer goats over 20 years and have never had a coyote problem until this year. Lost two kids over two months. The coyote is now dead. We use donkeys as guard animals.

 

[Jlblake]

Just curious, but why would you want to move them around? The weights, suggested by Eddie Walker, should work just fine. Seems to me you run the risk of damage by moving them, especially the 24X8. And, regarding the coyotes, we have been raising Boer goats over 20 years and have never had a coyote problem until this year. Lost two kids over two months. The coyote is now dead. We use donkeys as guard animals.

How many donkeys do you use for how many goats? Do you just use females? Did you get them when they were young? Ever have trouble with donkeys harming new kids?

As far as moving the pens, I built them where they made sense but I don't know if I could have missed something. I also may end up changing the layout of my land. I build the 24' pen in 8' sections so I can move it if necessary. I wasn't sure if they needed to face a particular direction and things like that. I'm pretty new to goats basically and some of these expenses are ones I don't want to incur again.

 

[RUSTBUCKET BRONCO]

could always anchor it with a couple metal T posts.

 

[RichZ]

How many donkeys do you use for how many goats? Do you just use females? Did you get them when they were young? Ever have trouble with donkeys harming new kids?

As far as moving the pens, I built them where they made sense but I don't know if I could have missed something. I also may end up changing the layout of my land. I build the 24' pen in 8' sections so I can move it if necessary. I wasn't sure if they needed to face a particular direction and things like that. I'm pretty new to goats basically and some of these expenses are ones I don't want to incur again.

Regarding guard animals for goats. I had 120 goats when we had a dairy goat farm and we used llamas as guard animals. Never had any problems with any predators, and the llamas are really nice animals.

 

[weldingisfun]

How many donkeys do you use for how many goats? Do you just use females? Did you get them when they were young? Ever have trouble with donkeys harming new kids?


As far as moving the pens, I built them where they made sense but I don't know if I could have missed something. I also may end up changing the layout of my land. I build the 24' pen in 8' sections so I can move it if necessary. I wasn't sure if they needed to face a particular direction and things like that. I'm pretty new to goats basically and some of these expenses are ones I don't want to incur again.

We have two donkeys, both female, Strongly advise you to not use a male. One jenny is with the does and one jenny is with the bucks. We bought them right after they were weaned. If they hurt the kids, sell the jenny. It is a gamble but a necessary one.

Orient your goat sheds so the closed end faces north. Goats just need to be able to get out of the cold wind, rain and stay dry.
You aren't that far away from us. If you want to come and visits, we will give you the nickel tour and show you a goat farm that has evolved over the past 20+ years. You are permitted to steal any ideas you think you might need. :thumbsup: