The goat house has no doors.
Worse, this rather big opening faces north, exposing the goats to the worst of the cold winds. Plus, it’s also facing in the wrong direction otherwise, away from the house and barnyard. There’s no way to see in to the goat house without entering the goat yard, knocking out a quick, easy check on the animals.
Last winter, any time it was expected to get very cold or snow, I moved the goats to the barn. Now I have horses, and I don’t want goats and sheep in their stalls this winter. There’s no shelter at all in the sheep field, so one will have to be constructed from scratch there, but the goat house will do just fine with a minor remodel.
I’m boarding over the existing north-facing opening and having an opening cut out here on the west side of the goat house, with a door so the goats can be shut in on cold nights. From this direction, I’ll also be able to see in to the goat house for a quick check on the animals from the barnyard, solving that problem, too.
While I was at it, I decided to repaint the goat house. I meant to match it up to the existing paint (which is the same color as the barn), but I think the red I brought home has a bit of a pink undertone to it and all the guys around here were poking fun at me for my “pink” goat house.
I told them this was a girly farm and to leave me alone! But. I’m planning to have the barn repainted next year (for the same reason I re-coated the roof) and I want all the little buildings to match the barn, so I may end up repainting the goat house to something a little more solidly barn red.
Or if I’m going to head in a pink-ish direction, maybe I should just go all the way and paint a hot pink barn!
Clover: “Stop embarrassing me, Woman.”
bonita says:
Check out a drug store display of hot new red lipsticks. Surely there’s one that is red enough for a barn and pink enough to be, well, distinctive. Besides, the UV in the sunlight can adjust any paint color.
On June 26, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Murphala says:
A certain CITR community member, Robin from Rurification, gave me directions to her farm once, which included “Turn right at the black barn.” There might be merit, in your agritourism efforts, to being able to say “Look for the pink barn.” Just sayin’… 😉
On June 26, 2012 at 9:50 pm
norahse says:
Are you sure you want a “West” facing door. Here in the Midwest, OHIO, all the weather comes out of the West.
On June 26, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
It’s coldest here on the east side of the house (that’s where my pipes used to freeze). The doors can’t be put on the south because the goat house is too close to the fence line there, and there’s no way I’m putting an opening to the east. The west is a better choice than the north, where it is now. When bad weather is coming, I’ll be able to close up the goat house completely.
On June 27, 2012 at 6:49 am
TwistedStitcher says:
I’m voting for a hot pink barn. I think it would be very fitting for a girly farm.
On June 26, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Dawn says:
:butterfly: or you could draft your resident artists and make it a green and blue barn with sassafrass trees and animals painted on it – then there would be no question of missing it if used in directions – of course then the girls would have to have their goat portraits on the goat house and the sheep portraits on the sheep house – I realize it would be work but just think how entertaining for all the people coming to the farm and how distinctive it would make your farm????? :happybutterfly:
On June 26, 2012 at 11:10 pm
StuckinMiami says:
Tim Hawkins has a Pretty Pink Tractor that would be PERFECT!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XZn0Jz_D2k
On June 26, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Cheryl LeMay says:
Is there a window or ventilation for them if they’re going to be closed up in it?
On June 27, 2012 at 7:07 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Cheryl, there will be ventilation.
On June 27, 2012 at 7:10 am
Stick Horse Cowgirls says:
Can’t have a pink goat house! I’m voting for a true barn red with rusty brown undertones in it!
On June 27, 2012 at 10:50 am
bonita says:
Of course, you could paint the barn ‘barn red’ and then paint a patchwork quilt on it. That would satisfy two–maybe even three–camps!
On June 27, 2012 at 11:56 am
UlrikeDG says:
I recently saw a HOT pink barn from the interstate in Nebraska. It certainly was eye catching! It made me wonder what the story was, too.
On June 27, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Auntie Linda says:
I love the idea of a pink goat house…or barn. Just watched that video and couldn’t stop laughing! Now I just need to talk DH into it……..
On June 27, 2012 at 9:58 pm
fowlers says:
I’m guessing, you need more pink in your yard:::hee hee, ooh and some latice also:: would’nt that just freak those boys out:: lol, a hot pink barn w/ white latice around the body of it::: nothin wrong w/ sprucing up the goat pen!!!! Love the pink/red paint!!
On July 10, 2012 at 9:58 am