We are under contract now to purchase our new home in Central Maine. There is much to look forward to - having wooded land, making plans for guest cabins, making gardens, and building outbuildings.
Speaking of outbuildings, there is only currently an attached garage which will become the workshop right away. But we are wondering what will work best to shelter all of the animals on the day we arrive. What can we do for their immediate needs and then what kind of small barns can we build inexpensively and simply? Any thoughts? We will have 3 goats, 14 chickens (two of which are special needs and need their own separate area and a rooster and his girlfriend that need their own space) and one duck. We are planning to close our shop for about two weeks when we move so we can concentrate on building.
Since I live in a large metro area, I cannot help with the animals. Good luck, though, with all your moving plans. I look forward to a photo of your new home. It all sounds very exciting!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you ! I hope that God blesses your move in every way. I am sure the first cup of tea in your new home will be filled with hope for a bright future in Maine.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Tonya!!!!!!!!! So very exciting...you trusted and it is manifesting. For your critters, I suggest looking on pinterest at pallet shelters. Pallets are free and can create portable, easily erected buildings in a pinch until you can devote more energy to more permanent shelter. Good luck...looking forward to following along with your adventures.
ReplyDeletexo Jules
I'm very Happy for you all!! I was just about to tell you about wooden pallets also!! I have make a quick shed out of them and in the end after we added more to it, it became a pretty good barn. Hope you figure it out. God bless
ReplyDeleteKelly
Friends of ours in a similar situation to yours transported chickens, although they only had 3, and used briefly for shelter, a large dog crate. Probably not the best solution but could work long enough for you to build shelters. Pallets are a super idea also, as Jules stated above pinterest will probably have lots of ideas for you. Good luck on your new adventure, Maine is beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteI am soo excited for your family. I have always wanted to visit Maine!! When we bought our house 8 years ago we built a chicken coop out of pallets, we tore it down this year. It served us well!! I can't wait to see pictures of your new home!!! Many blessings to you and your family as you plan all the parts of your move!! It is cold and rainy here in Pa. Blessings Janet
ReplyDeleteanother idea is hoop houses built with cattle panels, some 2x4's, and some tarps... You can see lots of examples on pinterest or by a google search. Good luck!
ReplyDeletecongrats on the new home, a would say a wooden square with chicken wire around it and some tarp over the top for now
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - how exciting! I has been my dream for several years to move to Maine and just having been to the Fair, I know how beautiful that area of Maine is. We also spent a weekend over the summer in Palermo, Maine (about 30 min from Unity) at the home of a organic CSA and holistic vet that also offers a tent cabin and yurt for Airbnb. It seems like a great area for setting up a homestead.
ReplyDeleteWe made a temporary small barn by using a steel-framed/plastic shed meant for a car. We lined the bottom half of the inside using the pallets, hooking them all together, and made a gate-like pallet for the door. It prevented the sheep from gouging a hole in the side and lasted for over a year.
ReplyDeleteWe moved our smallholding in England a few years ago. Our sheep used the small stock trailer we transported them in as a home for a while. I think it would work well for goats too.We also used electric fencing to make temporary enclosures as the perimeter fencing wasn't secure enough. What about an old tent for the chickens?
ReplyDeleteI hope it all works out well for you.
Best of luck with the move! Wish I had some creative ideas for the animals...
ReplyDeleteYay!! I was just checking in to see if your offer was accepted. We'll practically be neighbors. I don't have any critter housing suggestions, but I've been looking at greenhouse style shelters for our goats and the sheep I hope to get next year. I've seen a few examples and they look like they work well, even in our northern climate. Keep in touch!
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