Relevant to the sheep breeders are issues related to the wintering process of the herd. Its proper organization has a number of features. The room in which all the necessary conditions for the keeping of sheep will be created differs in its construction from the usual shed. In this article we will explain how to make a sheep-dog - a comfortable home for this kind of livestock.
What is a sheepdog
An agricultural pen, intended for the habitat of sheep, both in winter and for their lambing, is called the sheepfold. A characteristic feature of the building is its height (1-1.2 m) and a large number of windows. Sheepfolds are built in various shapes - in the form of a rectangle, the letter "G" or "P". The facade of the building is turned to the south, where the bases for day feeding are equipped, and the wall facing north is erected without apertures. This configuration protects against cold winds.
Check out such popular breeds of sheep as: "Edilbaevskaya", "Romanovskaya", "Tonkorunnaya" and "Romney-march".
Design requirements
There are many requirements for construction related to the specifics of growing the above type of livestock in it. Studying some of the nuances necessary for a successful outcome of the planned event will save you time, money, and explain how to make a sheepfold on your own.
- Sheep are gregarious animals, but they do not like crowding, expecting the total volume of the room to be laid on one breeding uterus with a litter of at least 3 square meters. space. From this will directly depend on the quality of wool.
Did you know? In Ukraine (Kherson region) a record was recorded in the number of sheared wool from one ram. It turned out to be a male weighing 130 kg, from which 31.7 kg of wool per year were shorn.
- They do not tolerate temperature fluctuations, cough and can suffer from lung diseases, therefore, the sheep pen should be not only big, but also warm, with no drafts.
- The absence of high humidity - a prerequisite for this building. Excessive dampness leads to the reproduction of the fungus on the coat and the appearance of skin diseases. This can be achieved by installing a good ventilation system.
- The presence of a solid dry floor. Sheep are prone to leg disease, therefore, by fulfilling the requirements for laying the floor, you will provide them with healthy ligaments.
- It is very important to choose a place to build. From this will largely depend on whether the developer can achieve the required parameters:
- the site must be dry;
- have a low level of groundwater, solid ground;
- the presence of a slope - at least 5 cm by 1 meter, for the removal of storm water;
- desirable - convenient access roads, the availability of water and electricity.
Find out what the main criteria when choosing a machine for shearing sheep.
Sheepfold DIY
After drafting the project, you need to write a list of the necessary material. This is the most costly item of expense when creating a sheepdog for sheep. In order to build your own hands was a budget, you need to think everything through in advance and not spend money on surplus.
Required materials and tools
Most often for the construction of such a barn use a brick or wood. Depending on the area of ​​residence can be built from clay with straw or sandwich panels.
Did you know? In ancient times, pens were made of stone. Sheep are distinguished by remarkable strength, especially males, and they easily demolish more fragile structures.Consider the necessary material for the most common types of buildings, namely the wooden version or brick. In the first case, you will need woodworking equipment:
- planer and jigsaw,
- a circular saw,
- screwdriver and screws
- hammer, nails, tape measure,
- tree.
- cement, sand,
- putty knife,
- trough for the preparation of the solution
- brick.
It is necessary to take into account the material for interior decoration:- heating system,
- ventilation,
- wiring,
- water pipes,
- doors,
- window openings
- roof.
Step by step production
The construction of the paddock takes place in several simple steps, each of which has its own nuances.
Foundation For the strength and durability of the structure, we begin the process of creating the foundation in the form of concrete columns. Pour the concrete solution around the wooden formwork, pre-hammered into a shallow pit. At the same time we insert a metal pin into each pillar, on which the floor will hold on in the future.
It will be interesting to learn how to raise orphan lambs.
Frame We lay a layer of waterproofing on the foundation, and then make a frame of vertically installed boards.
Walls, windows and doors The next stage is the construction of walls - a brick is laid or a wooden crate is nailed on the supporting beams (in the case of wooden walls), which is covered with boards from the outside.
Important! When using any material, it must be warmed from the inside. Mineral wool is ideal for this.
In the sheepfold, the winter temperature should not fall below +3 ° C, and during lambing - below +8 ° C. Do not forget about the window openings, they are placed at a height of 1.5 m from the floor in an amount sufficient for good lighting at any time of day, otherwise you will have to take care of an additional light source. Windows can be glazed or simply hammered with film. The second option is used in the absence of artificial ventilation for better air exchange. But with this it is important not to overdo it and position the openings so that there is no draft. Doors in the shed put double, to increase capacity. The gate is the most durable part of the building, it is made of sturdy wood, and high-quality door hinges are used to fasten it. It is better to leave the floor earthen, fill it with clay or a combined one - pour concrete with it, and lay it with wood on top.Important! When making a wooden floor, it is made several centimeters higher and at a slight angle. This contributes to a more rapid drain of waste and its drainage.
Roof From above the walls are covered with transverse beams on which the roofing material spreads. It is advisable to warm the roof (the ideal option would be hay) to reduce heat loss.How to equip a pen for sheep
After the erection of the paddock, it is necessary to arrange the internal space for a comfortable stay of the sheep in the stall period. Here, too, most of the work can be done by hand:
- a sufficient number of feeders and drinkers should be installed in the sheepfold. The length of the feed trough is calculated taking into account the required feeding space equal to 300-400 mm for one sheep;
- premises should be divided into zones according to age, sex of animals and breeds available. As the separation material using conventional grilles up to 1 meter;
Important! Sheep shearing at sheepfolds is done in specially equipped barns. It should be carried out in a completely enclosed area in order to avoid wetting of the wool and its pollution from dust.
- Sheep is contraindicated for dampness, therefore, good ventilation is an urgent need, however, having covered the floor with a layer of straw mixed with sawdust, we partially compensate for moisture coming from the ground.
Having dealt with the nuances of the structure of the sheepfold, choose such materials that will save the flock, increase the offspring, protect it from cold, fungus and diseases, which will ensure the prosperity of your livestock breeding business for many years.
