I had this idea that pehaps I could wire two cattle panels together and bend them over like a hoop house cut another cattle panel to cover the back and cover it all in corrugated galvanized to make decent, cheap, somewhat portable, not so easily destructible goat shelters.

I have one wether that has horns and he literally just slowly rams everything I build for him until the joints break apart. I thought this would have enough flex, and no climability from the outside that it wouldn't be such a waste. I can't afford to have shelters welded, and tho' I will never have another horned goat, this guy is my rear guard against coyotes, and a pet.

Whattya think? I also was thinking this would be good for my less destructive goats. Anyone have experience with this?

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002

Answers

Doreen, I have had sheep for years. ( read that as RAMS ) who beat everything apart that they could reach. My solution was to drive T posts down along the barn, and attach hog panels. The panels do have some give, and evidently don't have the appeal of a solid wall. I now have goats, with, and without horns, and have had no further problems. Hope this helps.

-- Judy in IN (whileaway3@cs.com), January 18, 2002.

I made my chicken house using 2 panels as you describe and covering with a tarp. I connected them with cable ties but chickens are not nearly as hard on things as the goats are!!!. I used a sheet of OSB for the back of the shelter and chicken wire for the front. You probably aren't going to enclose the front though. Its working well for me. You might have trouble with the horns and the wire panels though... Usually, critters will find some way to get themselves into trouble, even if you think the chance is remote.

-- Deb (DFoster987@aol.com), January 18, 2002.

I had to use cattle panels for fencing with this crazy horned wether. He hasn't gotten his head stuck severely yet, he did have a couple of panicky moments once or twice. I'm thinking that if I can bend the corrugated with the arch of the panel and tie it down with baling wire that it would hold firmly. I have one covered with a tarp set up for shade in my chicken yard. It sure ain't purty! I guess I'll just give it a try an see what happens. I need some cheap shelters for isolation pens and that kind of thing.

Thanks so much for your thoughts!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), January 18, 2002.