Types and drawings of sheep pens, how to do it yourself at home
The need for a special pen for keeping sheep arises for several reasons. In order for the animals to be kept and fed in one place, creating appropriate conditions for a comfortable wintering (especially in cold areas). Or, because the livestock has increased, the old sheepfold has ceased to accommodate everyone. Next, we will explore options for homemade paddock designs.
What is it for
Sheep pen is a special dwelling where animals are kept, raised and conditions are created as close to natural as possible. Shepherds traditionally drive rams and sheep to pasture, using the paddock only in cold weather or in an emergency (for shearing). In the conditions of Russia, it is not always possible to keep animals in the open air. Often there is simply no room for this.
An example corral is shown in the video:
The sheepfold will reduce the risk of losing animals, concentrating them in one place. And feeding the sheep will become easier. Again, it is easier to maintain adequate hygiene conditions for housing, which reduces the risk of disease.
The main advantages of a sheepfold, a corral are as follows:
- the proximity of the conditions of detention to natural;
- protection from predators, concentration of sheep in one place;
- does not require a lot of attendants (shepherds).
There are also disadvantages. It is required to carefully monitor the diet, throwing up feed, and periodically clean the pen. Let's consider the main types of structures that can be implemented at home.
Types of structures
When choosing a pen design, they must take into account their own financial capabilities, the size of the sheep population and the complexity of implementation. The most common options include:
- Koshara.
- Portable fencing.
- Stationary corrals.
- Base.
The koshara is a simple sheep pen. In fact, it is a fenced area for walking with a barn or house. It is used as an option for temporary housing, since it cannot completely replace a field or meadow, where sheep receive a lot of succulent grass in large quantities.
The next most popular option refers to stationary, mobile pens. They are the easiest to build: a fence is created to restrict the movement of sheep across the territory. You can use light shields, a net stretched over poles, standard sections for reusable use.
It is also possible to build a canopy at home on a certain area of pipes, plastic. Bases belong to this type of construction.At the site of the future enclosure, the groundwater level must be located as low as possible so as not to flood the sheepfold. It is categorically not recommended to place a corral in the lowlands.
An example of a base for sheep is shown in the video:
Design and drawings
In every case, calculation is important. Koshara will stand, will last a long time, if you approach its design wisely. The size of the pen depends on the number of sheep in the flock and their composition. Youngsters need more space, movement. Functionally necessary space is sufficient for adult sheep.
For most options, there are ready-made, developed drawings. There are also special collapsible and prefabricated, manufactured in an industrial environment, structures (scissors).
In some cases, the design will have to be entrusted to professional builders. But it will also cost much more. And it is much easier to assemble a homemade corral from scrap materials for a small flock. Do not forget that the gates should be wide enough so that animals do not crowd at the exit, do not collide. The pillars need to be strengthened, dug into the ground: the main load will fall on them. Partitions, sections should be designed for impact, an attempt of sheep to knock them out.
The approximate area of the pen can be determined based on the following data:
| Animal species | Required space, square meters |
| Young growth | 0,8 |
| Adult sheep | 1,0 |
| Sheep with lamb | 3 (maximum) |
| Breeder ram | 1,6 |
Knowing your specific data (herd composition), it is easy to calculate the minimum required area of the pen.
Construction Materials
Not many materials are required to build a homemade barn. Basically, it is wood, durable and seasoned timber. So, to build a pen we will need:
- Pillars, bars (2.5 meters minimum).
- Wooden plank.
- Coating materials.
- Bituminous mastic.
- Gravel, crushed stone.
- Cement.
- Rope or cord.
- Pegs.
- Hand drill, bayonet shovel.
- Meter, tape measure.
- Level.
- Plumb line.
In addition, you will need: fasteners (nails, bolts, screws, steel brackets), a hacksaw, a drill or screwdriver, a container for mixing the solution, a pair of buckets, a wide brush. When choosing wood, it is not at all necessary to give preference to high grades, free from defects. For a corral, relatively cheap pine lumber is quite suitable.
The main thing is that there are no deep cracks, rot, strong curvatures. Anything else will do just fine.
How to choose the right place?
Not every place is suitable for a stall. Paying attention to the strength of the structure (and sheep do not differ in flimsy constitution, they can break a weak corral in a couple of hours), they also do not forget about compliance with the conditions of detention.
Animals are extremely susceptible to external stimuli. If the sheepfold cannot be away from housing, roads, some noisy objects, it is imperative to build a solid fence, a hedge. Further, the geological conditions for the placement of the sheath and the base are taken into account. It is desirable that the site be flat, tamped, if possible on a hill (not in a lowland). So the animals will feel comfortable, dry, they will begin to reproduce normally and gain weight.
How to make a sheepfold for sheep with your own hands
There is nothing difficult in creating a sheepfold. With the correct selection of materials, design, and also taking into account the basic nuances, even those who do not have special education can build it. The whole process can be conveniently divided into several stages. First - the foundation, then - the frame, walls, roof, floor and gate.
Barn foundation
A sheep farm will last longer if you pay due attention to creating the foundation, the foundation of the sheepfold.Since this is not a residential building, the foundation can be created according to a simplified scheme. The pillars are embedded in drilled holes, which are filled with concrete.
Making a solid, tape base for a farm is unprofitable. It will be enough for each supporting post, on which the weight of the fence is distributed, the coatings are securely fixed in the ground with the help of a mortar mixed from crushed stone, sand and cement.
At the same time, communications should not be located under the future sheepfold (this should be found out in advance), groundwater close to the surface.
Pits for supports are drilled or dug out. Previously, the site should be marked using pegs and a cord. The approximate depth is up to 40 centimeters (depending on the soil structure). For dense soil, the depth is up to 60 centimeters, loose, bulk - up to 1 meter or more. At the bottom of the pit, a cushion of crushed stone and gravel must be poured.
Barn frame
The supporting frame is formed by uprights and cross members. Before you start installing the supports, you need to prepare them. The lower part, which ends up in the ground, is impregnated with bitumen mastic to avoid destruction. Waste engine oil or drying oil will do. The applied layer should dry.
Then the racks are embedded in the pits, filled with concrete. It can be mixed in a suitable sized trough or concrete mixer. The use of a ready-made building mixture is allowed, this will speed up the process. For the period of solidification of the solution, the racks must be fixed. They cannot be loaded for several days (about 3 days). The verticality of the corral supports is checked with a plumb line, visually.
When the solution has frozen, begin laying the crossbars. The first is located at a height of 15-20 centimeters from ground level. Further, depending on the selected design, a solid or thinned skin is made. Long cross members provide a secure connection to the frame. If it is not possible to use large pieces, you can splicate beams or boards. At the same time, the seams in the vertical plane should not coincide (run apart).
Corral walls
When the decision is made to make not just a corral, but a room, walls are created in it from boards, profiled sheets, wooden boards. Fastening to the frame is done with nails, screws, special brackets - which option is better - the owner himself will choose. The walls of the paddock must withstand the impact of the hoof, the weight of the animals. And for cold regions, they also perform the function of protecting sheep from precipitation and bad weather.
Barn roof
To create a canopy of the corral, beams are mounted, which are then sheathed with profiled sheet, plastic, slate. If the area of the structure is solid, a crate is made in front of the flooring device, it will close the windows between the beams.
Fastening of the enclosure cover structures is arbitrary - on nails, corners and screws. Examples are shown in the figures:
The main thing is that it is reliable and durable.
Sheepfold floor
It is permissible to leave the floor of the corral earthen, ramming or rolling it. If the structure is intended to be permanent, boards can be laid. But it will cost more. A grout floor is not recommended as it is too cold for the sheep. Do not forget that the main condition is to ensure comfort when keeping animals.
Goal
The corral gate is made with the expectation of a simultaneous passage of 2-3 sheep. It is better to make 2 doors or equip a separate entrance for people. Start assembling the gate from the frame. Then it is sheathed with a board. At the end, the sash is hinged, attaching it to the pen post. The hinge must freely support the collar weight.
Constipation is provided so that the sheep from the corral do not scatter.
Corral arrangement
When the construction is completed, they begin to install the feeders, drinkers and salt licks. The choice of feeders is determined by the purpose of the pen: for fattening (for slaughter) sheep, for keeping or raising young stock.
It should be convenient for animals to find food and water in the pen.
