Are two sheds better than one?

[Macsky]

Looking to put up a new shed, the initial requirements are to in winter up to 40 head of spring calving cows, and to house 100+ Cheviot ewes in lamb with twins, with the possibility of extending in the future, site space isn’t too restrictive, are you better trying to design a big dual purpose shed, or to put up two smaller, separate ‘off the peg’ sheds?

Cattle on hardcore straw courts with a separate concrete feed passage, ewes on hardcore (future upgrade to plastic slats more of a possibility in a purpose built sheep shed?).

 

[2wheels]

1 big one and subdivide it with barriers. that way if you stop the stock job you have a decent sized shed for the likes of caravan storage?

 

[Highland Mule]

1 big one and subdivide it with barriers. that way if you stop the stock job you have a decent sized shed for the likes of caravan storage?

Agree on one big one with division, so that options can change from time to time. Can't see there being much demand for caravan storage where Macsky is though.

 

[Nearly]

2 smaller ones as long as you can join them both together without anyone noticing.

 

[Macsky]

I’m leaning towards two smaller sheds at the moment, the site is basically a big rectangular borrow pit, so shelter on three sides and open to the east, which is cold but normally dry, the prevailing wind is SW. What I have in my head is an open sided sheep shed at the back of the site towards a corner, open side facing the open side of the site, with a cattle shed the same size with one open side facing the sheep shed, at least 20’ apart.

The sheep shed should be quite sheltered, with feed barriers up each side with a 4’6 cantilever each side too, and a concrete pass up the middle of it for lambing pens. Cattle shed would also have a 4’6 cantilever on the open side, space boarding down to concrete panels the rest of the way around.

 

[Paul E]

2

 

[Suffolksucklers]

Look at planning fees as they are capped up to a certain square footage and then raise on a value per square foot over that. Can really eat into money if you are not careful. We put up two 120 X 85 s with four separate applications to keep it under the threshold

 

[onesiedale]

2 sheds better. Make sure you use the distance between them to your advantage, especially with things like livestock handling. With the 2 small livestock sheds we put up, the outside area is critical to how the shed works. Stock handling/feeding etc

 

[Macsky]

2 sheds better. Make sure you use the distance between them to your advantage, especially with things like livestock handling. With the 2 small livestock sheds we put up, the outside area is critical to how the shed works. Stock handling/feeding etc

Any recommendations on distance? Would like them close enough to shelter each other, but far enough away to get tractor down easily for feeding and use for handling like you say.

 

[Highland Mule]

Just a thought if you’re serious about a dedicated sheep shed - have a look at my photos of the slatted sheds from Highland Sheep 2019 in Caithness. Definitely worth a trip up for a proper look if you can manage it as well.

NSA Highland Sheep

https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/nsa-scotland/highlandsheep/ Anyone coming up a look? Sure it will be a good day. The people involved are putting a hell of a lot of effort in to it. Come and see that scotland doesnt stop at inverness!

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[Macsky]

Just a thought if you’re serious about a dedicated sheep shed - have a look at my photos of the slatted sheds from Highland Sheep 2019 in Caithness. Definitely worth a trip up for a proper look if you can manage it as well.

NSA Highland Sheep

https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/nsa-scotland/highlandsheep/ Anyone coming up a look? Sure it will be a good day. The people involved are putting a hell of a lot of effort in to it. Come and see that scotland doesnt stop at inverness!

thefarmingforum.co.uk

I heard from someone that was there that it was some setup indeed. Looks great but budget doesn’t exist for that, I wonder how much of it could be retro fitted? Biggest problem is that the site sits on solid rock, so digging down further wouldn’t be cheap.

 

[Macsky]

Just a thought if you’re serious about a dedicated sheep shed - have a look at my photos of the slatted sheds from Highland Sheep 2019 in Caithness. Definitely worth a trip up for a proper look if you can manage it as well.

NSA Highland Sheep

https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/nsa-scotland/highlandsheep/ Anyone coming up a look? Sure it will be a good day. The people involved are putting a hell of a lot of effort in to it. Come and see that scotland doesnt stop at inverness!

thefarmingforum.co.uk

How deep was it under the slats do you know?

 

[Highland Mule]

I heard from someone that was there that it was some setup indeed. Looks great but budget doesn’t exist for that, I wonder how much of it could be retro fitted? Biggest problem is that the site sits on solid rock, so digging down further wouldn’t be cheap.

There’s was in a borrow pit too, so might be worth a chat. I suspect that the owners would be fine for a chat - Sibminster farm, iirc.

How deep was it under the slats do you know?

Good question, maybe 2’6” ?

 

[Highland Mule]

I heard from someone that was there that it was some setup indeed. Looks great but budget doesn’t exist for that, I wonder how much of it could be retro fitted? Biggest problem is that the site sits on solid rock, so digging down further wouldn’t be cheap.

How’s availability of straw where you are?

 

[Macsky]

How’s availability of straw where you are?

As in home grown?.........zero. Any straw is well travelled by the time it reaches. Slats would be great for the ewes no question.