need shelter ideas to keep my goats warm during winter.
The easiest and cheapest is to make a hoop house out of a 16' cattle panel and a tarp. If you have some 2 X 4's laying around you can make a frame, attach the cattle panel so it is in a half circle and then stand it up. Might want to add a steel post or 4 for added stability or drill holes in the 2X4 and add anchors if you get a lot of wind. Drape the tarp over it and wire.
Another option is to check with the farm places that spray fertilizer and see if they have any poly tanks with a hole or crack. A lot of times they will give them away for nothing since they are useless. Cut a whole for a doorway, throw in some bedding and you're good to go. I wouldn't use tanks that have had pesticides or herbicides, though. Plastic tends to absorb and I would be afraid of toxicity.
3rd option is pallets. With this one you can either use screws to put 4 pallets together to make a 3-sided house, then cover with tin or a tarp or you can use 2X4's to make it 1 pallet deep, 2 or 3 pallets wide. Use 2X4's to stabilize the roof, cover with tin or tarp, add bedding, and you've got a shelter.
4th option is a covered dog kennel. Add a tarp or canvas to cover 3 sides.
5th option - if you live in an area that has hogs check around and see if anyone has a hog house they don't want or need. A hog house is a small quonset type building that, at least around here, is about 4' tall and 6' long. Don't put it next to a fence, though. Goats have been known to jump on top of it and go over the fence. Don't ask me how I know this. :laugh:
6th option - depending on how many goats you have - is a large dog house. Don't put it next to a fence, however, as the goats will jump on top of it and go over the fence.