Temporary Straw Bale Kid Shelter

Last week the weather man started warning us viewers that it is going to be cold this week, really really cold.  I knew it would eventually happen I just did not think it would happen so early.  It is hard to think about temperatures in the 20’s while wearing a short sleeve shirt.   Personally, I am always prepared for cold weather.  But I now have animals to care for and it is whom I immediately thought of as I viewed the weather report.  The cats would be fine and so would the big goats.  The only thing left to do concerning the goat shelter is a little trim and a coat of paint.  The big goats are all wearing a nice thick winter coat so I knew they would be able to handle whatever the weather brings.  It is the younger goats I was concerned about. 

First, Sport has some special needs.  We have known since he was ten weeks old he is a little off.  He doesn’t see as well as other goats and has some neurological deficits.  What concerned me the most is he might be cold natured.  While the other goats spent the summer lying in the shade, Sport chose to be in the sun.  While most goats have no problems with very cold weather, some do get cold.  I was concerned that Sport might not handle the cold as well as the other goats do. 

My second concern was that Sport and the twins are currently living in the vegetable garden.  Sport used to sleep in the dog igloo but a few months ago we stopped seeing evidence that he was still sleeping in it.  I had cleaned out the old straw and put some new straw inside the igloo and the new straw did not get packed down like a goat had been in there.  Since there are no trees or any type of natural shelter available in the garden, I was concerned.  Before that cold front arrived we needed to get something built for the kids.

A month or so ago I learned about straw bale gardening and want to try it out this spring.  So whenever it is convenient I have been picking up some straw bales.  It occurred to me I could use those straw bales to create a temporary shelter for the kids.  Last Friday I made a trip out to my source for straw bales and picked up six more bales.  I then came home and got to work on a temporary straw bale kid shelter.

My little helpers Sport, Zorro, and Boots.

 Straw apparently is yummy tasting.

I stacked the straw bales widest part on the ground for more stability.

Goats like to be as high up as possible.

Checking out their new shelter.

 

 

As expected an arctic cold front came through Sunday evening.  Monday was cold but the temperature did stay above freezing, barely.  That was not the case Tuesday and Wednesday morning when the temperature dropped to 29f here.  I received reports from others in the county of the temperature dropping to 20f.  So it was pretty cold for a few days.  Thankfully it has started warming up to more normal temperatures for December.  As for the kids, I know they love the roof of their new shelter and I have seen evidence that they are going in there at night to sleep.