Mini-Barn

[BigE_]

We've got blackberries and other weeds that are hard to control, so I've been thinking about getting a goat to help keep it under control. My wife has a friend who has sheep and claims that this particular variety are even better than goats for clearing land. The up-shot is that we are getting a couple of sheep, so I gotta another line tacked to the project list.

In addition to fencing, I was informed that I needed to provide a place for these sheep to sleep at night. My idea consisted of a 50' long cable attached to a collar or harness on a goat, and letting them sleep in the old dog run at night (we've got cougars and coyotes around). Put a piece of plywood over the top in one corner to keep out the rain, and call it good. Her idea was much more substantial -- suffice it to say it stopped just shy of a sheep mansion....

We compromised on a little shed and electric fencing. The bad news is that I had to clear some land. The good news was that I could finally justify a box blade so that I could use the tractor to clear the land.

Of course, the box blade came with no manuals, and wasn't assembled. That was a fun project in and of itself.

I had a little area just below the house that seemed like a good site.

Obviously, I finally got the BB on the tractor.

Next came the fun of learning to use it....

 

[BigE_]

The TC33D was way overkill for this project. I needed to clear a 10'x10' space, and ended up clearing a 12'x40' space just so I could maneuver. One of those little BX24s would have been perfect for this job. But, no matter, I got it done, and had fun doing it.

The next step was setting the concrete blocks.

Yes, I should have had the next step being to add crushed gravel, but I was building this with stuff I had on hand, and the gravel supply place was closed. My dad gave me a hand with this part.

 

[BigE_]

Here's how far I got on day one. I built the walls up at the shop, then my dad and I carried them down and got them placed and up. The ground was too wet to bother trying to use the tractor and trailer to get them down there.

I've got a little 8 gallon air compressor that I bought specifically for little projects like this. I normally have it in the garage to run the air ratchets and impact wrench, plus fill tires, etc. The big compressor lives in the shop. At any rate, I cheaped out and got the 8 gallon from Harbor Freight. Unfortunately, while it can keep up with my paint sprayer and air ratchet, it won't run on the end of an 80' extension cord plugged into the outlet by the back door.

I also found that the 8 gallon compressor wouldn't even run when plugged directly into the outlet by the back door! So, I ended up using my 16oz hammer to pin this together.

Note I said I was using what was on hand, just in case you are wondering why 2x6s were being used. This is part of an old deck and mobile home that was torn apart, and seemed to be a perfect use for the materials. I don't think the sheep are going to care.

 

[Aquaman]

I feel your pain. My daughter wants to have chickens for 4H so I have to build a chicken house. Good luck with your sheep!

 

[LarryD]

And what a fine weekend for building pens for animals it was.

My neighbor and I did very similar work this weekend (I also got some of MY chores done as well).

I had an old wood shed on the property that was 7 x 10? It was replaced a couple years ago with one 16 x 10? We致e talked ever since about moving the old shed down to his place and using it for pigs, the weather begged for just such an operation.

I used the box blade (on a 33D like yours) to scrape out a 30 x 30 flat spot in about 30 minutes. We cut some alders a couple years ago so a few 2 and 3 stumps had to be pushed out of the way but they broke off easily.

Then came the shed relocation. We put a couple 2x6痴 on the bucket to span the rafters and lifted it up. The ground is not exactly level (the route is flat) and on a couple occasions the tractor started to tip. I brushhog these areas and it never concerned me but with the shed perched on the bucket I knew it was going to be slow going. Just kept my hand on the lever and hit 吐loat when needed. Shift the weight to the uphill side of the tractor and make another 100? adjust and make another 100?

Needless to say, the pigpen is done and there値l be pork dinners next fall.

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks like you're having more fun in the winter months then most of us!!!!

Keep us updated on your progress. I'm curious about he sheep and how it works out for you. Also, what type of sheep you get.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[praha]

Lucky sheeps...what am I seeing there??? The leaves??? In OR at this time of year?
Joe

 

[oldhippy]

(we've got cougars and coyotes around).

In my area they will put donkeys in with the cattle and goats to keep out the coyotes out. They tell me that donkeys hate coyotes and will kick them to death if they can. Don't know much about about sheep. big dan

 

[4720 OWNER]

(we've got cougars and coyotes around).

In my area they will put donkeys in with the cattle and goats to keep out the coyotes out. They tell me that donkeys hate coyotes and will kick them to death if they can. Don't know much about about sheep. big dan

You can but have to start them (donkey) when they are young.

Next will be the creation of the shearing area?

 

[BigE_]

Type of sheep?
KATAHDIN SHEEP and they are supposed to eat just about anything green they can get their mouth around.

My neighbor has llamas and they haven't had any problems with the wild animals, but I have seen a coyote within 100' of the house (down near where the little barn is, come to think of it). My neighbor above me has a goat enclosed in an electric fence, so I'm figuring that the electric fence will keep them out. I got a 30 mile fence charger, and I'll be enclosing a little over an acre at a time. I'll be running the hot wires every 6-8" as recommended in the charger manual. Ground is fairly moist year round, so I don't have to worry about alternating hot and ground wires.

Joe, yep, those are leaves on the ferns.

Larry, I'm not quite as good at the BB yet. It took me a few hours of clearing. Slope started out at 15 degrees, though, and I had to make it 0 degrees. Your shed must be lighter than mine is going to be. 3 pieces of 4x8' OSB on the roof, covered by tar paper and a square of asphalt shingles, plus I'm doing the siding in hardiplank -- 23 of the 8"x12' boards. It is going to be HEAVY. Initially, this was going to be a little 4x6' shelter, and I was going to move it with the tractor as needed. Added the hay and grain storage area made it a tad bigger.

I'll have another picture to post soon. Rain returned last night, though.
Regards,
-Steve

 

[BigE_]

As you can see in the picture above, I've made a little progress. I got my air compressor figured out. My solution was to run a 12 gauge 80' cord from an outlet right next to the breaker box, and plug the compressor into that. Then I had another 50' of regular hose, and 25' of coiled hose off the compressor.

Using the compressor and the roofing nailer made the roof go a *lot* faster. Using the framing nailer was nice for the sheathing and for the siding. In fact, for the siding, it is almost a requirement, because it is so hard to start a nail in that hardiplank.

I made the door using some 1/2" AC plywood. The back side is 2x4s, covered by the plywood, and then the front side has some decorative strips stapled on (1/2" x 2" staples). I used 3 3" hinges, and mortised them into the door and into the door jamb. I added a nice big handle, and a latch to finish it off.

As I mentioned before, the siding is hardiplank 8", and it comes in 12' strips. I used this because it has a 50 year warranty on it, and at just under $7 a strip, it was fairly cheap. The sides of the shed are 8' wide, and the main portion in the front is 4' wide, and yes, I planned it that way. You can cut the siding with a regular carbide blade (just don't breath the dust). I was sorely tempted to buy a sliding compound miter saw for this project, but I made do with my little circular saw, and it worked out fine, albeit a little slower.

Once again, using my little 8 gallon compressor, I hooked up my Critter spray gun ( http://wood.bigelowsite.com/reviews/critter.htm ) and sprayed the exposed pieces with primer. It was getting dark at this point....

Still left to do:
1.) Paint
2.) Run electricity to the mini-barn (shed). Technically, this will be an "extension cord" run underground in conduit, but the end at the house will have a pigtail that plugs into a GFI protected outlet.
3.) Add lights, outlet, light switch
4.) Put up divider wall between the bedding area and the hay/grain storage.
5.) Add half door inside to provide access between bedding area and hay/grain storage
6.) Put up electric fence
7.) Other stuff I forgot.

 

[EddieWalker]

I didn't realize you were gonna make it so fancy!!! I love James Hardi products and use them quite a bit myself. For the money, it's about the best deal out there.

One time I had to cut a few pieces without my diamond blade in my 7 1/4 inch saw, so I did it like you did with the regular blade in backwards. It will get the job done, but it's painfully slow. If you do any more Hardi work, buy a diamond blade for under $40. One blade will easily do two houses worth of siding!!!! It might do more, but I tend to ruin them cutting concrete or pavers from time to time, and don't honestly know how long one will last if not abused.

Eddie

 

[WayneB]

Eddie, you're just tough on tools (just joking)

 

[BigE_]

Fancy? LOL. You can see the shed from the three big picture windows in the living room, so I didn't want to make it an eye sore.

One time I had to cut a few pieces without my diamond blade in my 7 1/4 inch saw, so I did it like you did with the regular blade in backwards. It will get the job done, but it's painfully slow.
Eddie

No need to put the blade in backwards. They recommend using shears for cutting the siding, and barring that, they recommend using a carbide tipped blade in the saw. That's what I used and it cut like butter, and this was a cheap 3 for $10 blade I picked up at Ace Hardware on sale last Thanksgiving.

I'm sure a diamond blade would last a lot longer, but I don't cut this stuff very often -- 20-30 feet worth every 3-4 years, or so it seems.

 

[firefighter9208]

BigE,

How are the sheep going to get into the mini-barn? Is the back side open?

Chris
Hill Farm Boer Goats

 

[BigE_]

Yes, the back side is open. It is a mirror of the front, except that it has no door.

 

[firefighter9208]

Cool. I have goats and have built "run-in" sheds for them with three sides closed and one open. Just curious.

BTW somebody mentioned a shearing area. This type of sheep (Katahdin) doesn't have wool to be sheared like traditional sheep. They are raised for meat. No shearing needed.

Chris

 

[Slackdaddy]

Daughter wanted Chickens, I figured We would keep some for layers and eat the rest. We ordered 25 day old chicks, she had them all named the 1st day, so no eating them.

Any how, she helped Me build the deluxe coop, them chickens are living large.

Nick

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=96295&stc=1&d=1203720571

 

[BigE_]

Slackdaddy, if you're going to do it, do it right, right?

I've been somewhat AWOL on my project. Other projects got in the way. I did manage to put the drip edges on, and get the gutter up. Last minute change in that the wife wanted the gutter to empty into the water trough (not in place yet), so the downspout looks a little funky.

Still left to do:
1.) Paint (Now have the paint chips picked out)
2.) Run electricity to the mini-barn (shed). Technically, this will be an "extension cord" run underground in conduit, but the end at the house will have a pigtail that plugs into a GFI protected outlet.
3.) Add lights, outlet, light switch
4.) Put up divider wall between the bedding area and the hay/grain storage.
5.) Add half door inside to provide access between bedding area and hay/grain storage
6.) Put up electric fence

 

[4720 OWNER]

I suppose the sheep will grow names as well and become pets? Personally butcher mine out at about 14 months. Very tasty, no lanolin yet.

Will consume anything green sounds like rotational pastures with their house at the center point so do not overgraze?