The 3-sided shed at right is just one example of how little primitive breeds really need in the way of shelter. This shed is taller than necessary; we built it with plenty of head room for our- selves. It has a dirt floor, a simple sloped roof and just 3 walls, with the open side facing away from prevailing winds. We built a hay feeder that is removable, although heavy, and a container nailed to the wall for the salt, minerals and kelp mixture. Hay or straw covers the dirt floor, and is removed and replaced as necessary.
While we do have traditional four sided barns on our farm, these 3-sided structures go up more quickly, cost less, and are just as useful. The structure above was built of mostly "found" materials; very few were purchased. After putting the posts in the ground and letting the concrete cure around the posts, it took us only 2 days to build the shed shown above. Simple plans for sheds like this can be found, or you can draw your own. If you are handy with a hammer and nails, it's a piece of cake, and if you are inexperienced with building, this is a perfect starter project of manageable size and will take less time than you think!
FLOORING AND BEDDING: While wood or concrete flooring is advisable for hay storage, we have found that concrete floors in shelters or barns meant to house sheep are not useful. A dirt floor is infinitely preferable, because urine will then seep into the ground, reducing or eliminating the ammonia problem. A concrete floor will prevent the urine from draining away, and no matter how much bedding you use, the stench is overpowering, and harmful to you and especially your flock, causing pneumonia or other respiratory ailments. Deep bedding of hay or straw is advisable (and is required by law in many European countries!) and should be added to and gradually built up as the winter progresses. In spring, the bedding should be removed, and can be composted for a wonderful pasture and garden amendment.
Useful Links:
This is the style of barn that comes to most people's mind when you say "barn",
and while it's very lovely, and we do have an old barn in this style on our place,
we have found that it's not as useful as other styles. Nevertheless, here are the
plans.
This shed is very similar to what we have found most useful for sheep shelters.
The photo and description shows something much larger than is our preference.
Instructions are available from this link.
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