The sheep have gone to the Tup and it makes me think about lambing next year.
My biggest problem is having to lamb outside, or more importantly not having enough space to bring many animals in if I need to. I can use the shed that I have access to for a few months each year and I can build around four or five bonding pens in there.
Ideally I'd like to build a proper barn, but that's off the cards for a while yet (fiances, planning & time to build it). The next thing I've considered is the standard mobile field shelter that you see around the countryside, timber clad and open fronted, stable style.
I'm fairly sure I could build a timber one fairly cheaply, although timber cladding is expensive, but then whilst watching Justin Rhodes the other night I saw an even cheaper to build type of barn and one that looked solid.
Something like this would be great to have a row of bonding pens in or once half the flock has lambed, keep the others in. I could build it with wheels, metal frame on the bottom, making it easy to move, even moving it once the season was over so that it was easy to muck out.
I love the idea of this mobile type of infrastructure, it's great for many reasons but I love the idea of trying out different layouts to see what works best.
What do you think?
Would this type of barn works for you?
Do you think it would blow away?
It would last up here as you know we are fairly exposed, a mobile lambing shed sounds good, a lambing shed is something Martin will have to put some thought into next.
ReplyDeleteHaving a shed or an area under cover is really useful when lambing. I't alright if they lamb in the sun shine, but half the time it's raining and blowing a gale, great to get them in and give the mothers a bit of a rest as well. Also stops mis mothering which is a nightmare with sheep.
DeleteAs a camper rather than a farmer - I'm wondering if you could build guy rope points into the barn frame, or use the 'up & over' elasticated straps that are used to hold down the vast modern caravan awnings & multi-modular tents (some are the size of that barn these days!).
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. I'm sure some long lenghts of rebar would work well as "tent pegs" and be fairly easy to pull out with the tractor!
Deletelook at ex forces equipment. We have too many of us now, but many a christmas was in an ex RAF mess tent, with space heaters. it kept the wind and rain off and it was easy to hose down and move around. you could have the kitchen area for lambing, then there is a makeshift door and the main area you could section off with hurdles to make pens. This would be a cheap way of doing it and it folded down (once you knew how to do it) into a metal box approx 1m x 70cm about half a metre high.. I will be going to my parents in a couple of weeks. I will ask them about it. I am sure it came from a forces auction, where they sell off the landrovers etc. they even threw in a a table with a detachable sink. my parents use it as a potting table still. They must of had it 25 years! lol sits out side all year. I will get back to you.
DeleteSounds extremely versatile! Joel Salatin is big on mobile structures. We've toyed with the idea of making a portable buck shelter to make a better pasture rotation. I think you'd be glad to have one like that.
ReplyDeleteI do like this idea of a mobile farm yard, in a way it just makes sense. Too often have my plans changed and I've had to do something differently, with buildings it's not that easy!
DeleteSounds like a good idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I keep seeing this mobile infrastructure and can't help thinking it's a good idea.
DeleteWhat about getting the back off a articulated freight lorry or a container? I made a shelter in some trees out of corrugated sheets for my cattle and they spent more time in the trees than the shelter.
ReplyDeleteI already have two shipping containers and was trying to avoid too many more, the thought had certainly crossed my mind though!
DeleteA Bow shed is fairly quick a and easy to put up. Light weight and does not require a lot of materials. Could easily be put on rollers and moved about. Around here they are popular as boat building sheds. Something like this:
ReplyDeletehttp://makinghouseswork.cchrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/greenhouse-roofing.jpg
That's really interesting, how are the "bow" bits made? And what with? Would make a great little structure as a little butcher house or something for when I'm processing.
DeleteKev, the bow trusses are made with pine strapping. 3/4 X 2.5 inch cheap lath as used between drywall and framing. Lay out your desired curve on a wooden deck. Ad blocking 5 inches apart either side of the curve and lay your strapping between the blocks. Then put 2x4 blocks between the strapping and screw the straps to the spacer blocks form both sides. presto you have an arched truss. Repeat and make a bunch of them. And then you can set them on a 2x4 sill and a 4x4 ridge pole.. I'll see if I can find a link that depicts the build sequence.
DeleteKev:
DeleteHere a depiction of the build process,
http://www.microcruising.com/shed.htm
Here's a set of plans:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media/system/e/c/7/7/ec77e0a6fb9a7c0c0bfdbaed1c2e2133/6298gothicraftergreenhouse.pdf
a depiction of the build process,
http://www.microcruising.com/shed.htm
Thanks Mike, I like the look of them. Teh only trouble here is any strapping liek that over here would have so many knots in it would snap before I could bend it, even when doing roofs you can pll the lath up and it snap on you. It does look great though, a mini one for a compost loo might be on the cards in the future! Great links!
DeleteI know it's not mobile, but here's what I did. https://notesfromasuffolksmallhoding.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/building-pole-barn.html
ReplyDeleteI'm sure with your skills and the tools you have it would be an easy project for you. You'd need to decide where to put it though.
I'd love to but then I'd have to go through planning (an AOMB here as well which makes things harder)! I will build a big barn int he future but not just yet, I need to finish the extension first. when I do I'm planing on a steel portal frame I think, good clear spans to get the tractor inside over winter.
DeleteThanks
ReplyDelete