30 X 40 ft BARN DESIGNS for a Hobby Farm

[BrokenTrack]

Hey thanks.

We went for several years with makeshift barns, so when we got around to building one, we kind of knew what we wanted. My sheep shearer said that it was the best barn she sheared sheep in. (Now extra credit for you if you an say that last sentence 17 times fast). (LOL)

I am like you, I became disabled myself, so I can no longer farm, but the USDA helped me transition into a new job, so I am now back in the workforce.

But it is a shame you dip you toes in the Pacific instead of the Atlantic as I would gladly have a coffee with you: Dunkin Donuts or Tim Horton's though?

 

[NorTracNY]

My advice would be to visit barns in your area, especially with people using them for similar purpose as what you're looking to do. Something that works in one area/environment might not be the best in another. My other piece of advice would be to have the proper site work done. It's the real foundation of your building and it should never be skipped. I've seen too many barns that don't take the wind, rain, and snow into account. The owners are constantly battling it because they didn't think ahead. I'm actually having some work done around my place with a dozer just to improve upon the slope on one side of my barn.

 

[scaredychicken]

thank you for that NorTracNY, good info ... the build site will be where the existing coop is now. We've been here almost 20 yrs, and this past winter was the most brutal as far as quick and steady snow accummulation. The area did better than most of the property (yay), there are a fair number of trees still in the area, and probably 11 -12 of them will be cleared for the new improved site and size. Access points from the rest of the yard are good, power and water would be easy extensions from what already exists. It will be tucked into that corner of the property, as that creates the most usable space for everything else. I'm going to have some builder friends look at the location and the barn design also, and the water, electrical, and concrete slab will be the first things to sort out. I think that the biggest challenge (at this point) is designing the location of the various runs that are needed, within the space that I have. Obviously when there is significant snowfall or rain, it has to go somewhere, so drainage and having a space to clear snow will be important. The worst winds tend to be on an angle and into a corner point of the existing structure, that is preferred as it cuts, rather than slams. I'd like to keep as many trees up as I can, but several would still need to be removed from that site area. Thanks.

 

[scaredychicken]

tractorchick65 - this is the thread that I mentioned, some good ideas for me

 

[sixdogs]

30x40' sounds way too small.

Also, I'm thinking something similar to what they do for fairground exhibits around here, the self standing put together style dog kennel fence panels. They can be taken down, moved, resizing areas, etc, and taken completely out for cleaning and washing down floor and walls.

Agreed that 30x40 is too small. In just a couple years you will wish you built at least 40x60. Build a separate small add-on for the animals. They will screw up the main bldg with smells, dust and moisture.