Barn

The barn is a hodge podge of materials that were obtained in various manners. First the utility poles that support the barn structure were obtained free from the local utility company. They are creosoted and in excellent condition. The lumber that creates the roof rafters and walls which supports the steel siding was cut from the land the barn sits on. Next the steel siding is roofing which a neighbor was discarding from a house he reroofed with asphalt shingles. The roof is new steel panels. Concrete was poured inside each stall for easy cleanup. The section on the left side of the picture is rubber roofing used in commercial buildings which was obtained at a sale for almost nothing. The area inside where the rubber is, is storage for hay. To put hay in the barn you simply pull back the rubber and the entire side of the building opens for easy access. On the right side is a roof which is propped up by two locusts posts and is on hinges (hinges were discarded by a previous employer in the junk). This allowed the roof to pivot down to close up the entry where straw is kept so as to keep the barn warmer in the winter. Presently there is some lumber stored there as well. The cost of the barn was very little...basically just roof panels and concrete.

ooking down to the barn from a hill behind it you can see the various pens, fences and gates, etc. They provide good secure areas to control the animals as well as protect them from predators. I can tell you from experience the foxes and racoons love chicken.

Looking north you see into the barn where the goat is standing. To the right is a chicken pen. To the left where the board fence is, is the pig pen which also goes back into the barn separate from the rest of the stalls. To the left in front of the pig pen where you see part of the opening is another pen with a three corner housing area with feed racks.

An interior view of the chicken house at night as the chickens are on the roost. Note the homemade nesting boxes on the right. We have fresh eggs almost every day.

You will probably never see another chandelier in a barn. Well, we got it for nothing from my brother and I needed a light in the barn. Guess you can see it works.

Just a note to say the freezer seen here was obtained from a local appliance store for free which we used to store feed at the barn.

The feed aisle of the barn is shown here. Nothing spectacular but the barn does work well to house the animals, allow for easy cleaning and promotes good feed areas to ensure ease of feeding and promote health for the animals housed.

Thought you might enjoy seeing a couple of kids at the barn.

Done just for fun and since I've been hauling salvage cars and trucks, I figured I had to have an old part from something and use it to decorate somewhere. Seems the wife felt it was most pleasurable at the barn where it was less notable so I put an old hood from a 70's Chevy truck as a roof awning to the entry of the barn. It costs nothing and serves the purpose.

Here noted is a Sannen goat we have that had twins and it looks like it is feeding time.

This Sannen buck is the daddy of the kids noted in the picture of "Mama and Her Kids".

Seen in this picture is the main area of the barn where feeding goes on and animals are generally housed unless birthing occurs which is in a separate stall just off the feed aisle. The shelf is a plus for goats since they like to rest elevated. The feeders are off the floor and hay racks are above the feeder troughs. There is always a sufficient area of bedding for animals to lay in especially when weather is to the cold side. Meanwhile the rest of the area is kept clean and limed regularly.

Seen here is a little wether who is just fantastic. He has a personality that is adorable and is very gentle. Ya couldn't ask for more unless you could get two just like him!