Allow 2-2.5 m² of shelter per goat and 1.5-2 m² per sheep, a dry floor with deep straw or shavings bedding, and a height of at least 2.5 m for goats because they climb and stand on their hind legs. A three-sided shelter facing away from the prevailing wind is adequate in many climates.
Part of Barn & Livestock Housing Design
Shelter requirements for goats and sheep are the floor area, bedding, height and wind protection that keep the animals dry and the building intact.
Space, Dry Bedding And Height Do The Work
Goats and sheep need less elaborate housing than poultry, but a shelter fails quickly if it is too small, damp or too low. Crowding spreads disease and causes fights over space. Wet bedding causes foot problems and chills the animals. Low structures get damaged by goats that stand on their hind legs and climb.
What You Need
- A roofed, three-sided shelter or a closed barn with a wide opening
- Bedding: deep straw or wood shavings. A deep litter system adds fresh bedding on top of old and lets the lower layers compost in place, which generates heat and reduces labour
- Roofing and walls strong enough to survive climbing goats
- A drained, sloping site so water runs away from the floor
Method: Size And Build
Step 1: Count the animals and multiply. Goats 2-2.5 m² each, sheep 1.5-2 m² each, inside the shelter.
Step 2: Set the height. Goat shelters should be at least 2.5 m high.
Step 3: Choose the bedding system. Deep litter adds fresh material on top of old. Keep the surface dry by adding bedding whenever it feels damp, and see Bedding Systems for depth management.
Step 4: Face away from the wind. Orient the open side away from the prevailing wind.
Step 5: Drain the site. Slope the ground so rain flows away. A wet floor is more harmful than a cold one; see Hoof and Foot for the foot problems damp causes.
Worked Example
A mixed flock of 6 goats and 10 sheep. Goats: 6 × 2 = 12 m² up to 6 × 2.5 = 15 m². Sheep: 10 × 1.5 = 15 m² up to 10 × 2 = 20 m². Total = 12 + 15 = 27 m² up to 15 + 20 = 35 m². A shelter 6 m × 5 m is 30 m², which falls inside that range.
Common Mistakes
- Counting the run as shelter — the figure is for roofed space.
- Building low — goats climb and stand up; a low roof is damaged.
- Bedding left wet — it chills the animals and breeds foot disease.
Safety
Dust and ammonia in deep litter
Deep litter that stays wet gives off ammonia and breeds mold. Stir and clear it with the doors open and a cloth over your nose and mouth; see Bedding Systems for the gas hazards of a deep, wet pack.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Fencing & Containment — keeping them in
- Combine with: Lambing Area — the birthing pen