Building a Low-Cost Barn

Our farm is nestled just outside a quaint little country town in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. My family and I moved to Arkansas in the summer of 2000, seeking cleaner air and a lot less stress.

With our 12 Missouri Foxtrotters, and all of our belongings, we came across the country to settle in to our new farm. Since we bought raw land, all of the fences, barns, and outbuildings had to be constructed new.

The land that we live on used to be part of an old dairy that had been split into parcels in the late 80's.

There was one very large, old hay barn on the lower acreage that we used for a loafing shed for our horses. The barn unexpectedly came crashing down during the ice storms the first year we lived here when the aged structure couldn't withstand the weight of the ice and snow on the roof.

Due to the barn falling down, we were faced with the decision to build a new barn. We only had a short time before our foaling season would begin.

When our first foals were born in the spring of 2001, we experienced the effects of fescue toxicity. We were fortunate to save all of our foals, but the mares did not put down enough milk to feed the growing foals. That is when I made the decision to buy my first milk goat. One goat led to another goat, and so on. By the end of the first year I had 9 goats, which shared the new barn with the horses.

In order for me to have milking goats, my goats had to be bred to kid around the same time that the horses were foaling. This posed a problem for space because with all of the mares in dry lot pre-foaling, I had to have some sort of shelter for my goats.

I needed a structure that would house my goats, be strong enough to withstand the winds and winter weather, as well as be cool enough in the summer time.

I purchased a large free-standing carport building. The measurements are 18 by 22 feet. I purchased extra braces, which made a total of 4 braces. The building is 8 feet at the pitch. The company that I purchased it from installed it with a guarantee. The only requirement is the ground must be level prior to installation. The building cost $662.00 installed.

I then called up the local lumber yard and special ordered sheet metal for barns to fit the sides. The metal was cheaper buying in sheets rather than smaller pieces. The metal is special treated so that it will not rust. The sheet metal cost $52.00 on sale.

The carport was sided with the sheet metal from the base of the eaves to the ground using special screws that would not allow water to run into the metal.

The ends of the building were sided also, however doors were cut on either end. A 2 foot space to the pitch was left open so that there would be plenty of ventilation in the hot months.

Inside the building, the spaces between the legs of the building measured enough space to frame in stalls. There are 4 stalls on either side of a 3 foot isle way. The stalls are made with horse paneling that was cut to fit the stalls. The paneling is secured to wood frames. The gates of the stalls are also made with left over horse paneling framed in wood. In all, there were 5 horse panels used, the purchase price for each panel is $25.00.

Two florescent lights were installed in the top of the building, purchased at Walmart for $10.00 a piece.

The total cost for the barn was under $1000 and it houses 8 does comfortably. This barn housed my does and kids with plenty of room.

The only thing I have added this winter was a tarp to cover the south end of the building from the end wall to the pitch because of the snowfall we have had. With the high winds and snow, the tarp has protected the goats from the blow in. Having the tarp on the end has also helped keep the barn warm trapping the body heat in.

If you would like to learn more about how you too can construct a low cost barn for your animals, feel free to email me at OzarkaPride@aol.com to find out.