The Doe Port!

Although we are still shopping for property and planning to move, we continue to build, maintain, and repair things here.  One of our big build projects this year is building a barn for our does before winter sets in. 

We had a very small barn for the does, but the herd has outgrown it.  We also have a small kidding barn that we use for does....but they have outgrown it as well. As breeding season began, we needed the old doe barn for a rowdy junior buck, "Spirit"; leaving the buck barn loafing area the only place for the does to get out of weather.  Needless to say, it was a bit of insanity out there.

We need a doe barn before winter, and we have to do it without going into debt...so we made a plan. 

Since the drought we have lost a total of 10 trees.  We have been cutting them down here and there depending on time.  The last tree that lost branches managed to nearly destroy the pig pen.  Since it was obviously in need of rebuilding, we chose that as the spot for the new doe barn.  It also happens to be the most level spot in the yard.

 First we tied off the dead tree to prevent it from falling on the house....

Then we removed the fencing from the pig pen...

Then we cut down the tree, cleaned up the mess, and bought a carport.  Yep, a carport....$695 of instant roof 18' X 21'. ... and some pavers...because even as level as this spot looks....it's not near level!

We put up a temporary fence across the yard so that the installers wouldn't be molested by a herd of goats and their 3 livestock dogs....

The men were here by 8:30am and within just a few minutes they were unloading the truck....

Laying the bottom rails...

The uprights and rafters took just a few more minutes:

and then the roof was on!

 

Just a bit of trim and it was finished...

So now we have an 18' X 21' "doeport" fully installed.  Our plan is to build an 8x10 office in that far corner, and 2 permenant stalls on the right side.  Then on the left side we will be able to put up portable stalls during kidding season.

There's a bit of ground work to do first, and of course we need to save up a bit of money in order to get the office finished....but I think we've got a good start....and at least the does have a place to escape the rain!