These photos are in no particular order ~ just as blogger would allow me to upload them. If you're a friend of mine on Facebook, you've likely seen them, but I have a few friends who aren't on there, and I wanted to share. There is still more to be done... Saturday, a good share of the electrical work will get completed--All that is necessary before the goats arrive, and then some. At that point, I can hook up the automatic waterers and will take down the bucket hangers in all the barns and pens. Monday, the 4th load of concrete, which will be the walkway behind the barn and what allows for water drainage away from the barn as well as putting in the last 2 posts at the bridge will get poured. When all that is complete, we will only have to put back the fences and gates that were taken down to give access to these areas (and all the posts are in place so it'll be quick work... except around the waterers which will require a bit of creativity!) and build the trap door above the does' hay feeder and we will be ready for the goats' arrival! Well, I will have a bit of tidying up and rearranging to do in the feed/milk room. I am thankful that the goats will be arriving the 3rd weekend in May as opposed to this weekend! What didn't seem like a lot to do has a way of growing!
This is the last section of the feed room to get concrete. I'm looking in at it through the door from the doe barn. To the left is where the milking will take place and straight ahead is the access to both the buck barn and the chicken coop. When the chickens get moved, the current coop will either be a play area for the children when it's cleaned up, or a storage area for tools. Not quite certain yet. David has big plans for a playhouse for the girls and a treehouse for the boys, but until that can be built (and with all the projects it could be a while) I think this would be a neat area... not to mention that my favorite play house as a little girl was originally built as a chicken coop! It had stained glass windows in it, though, so it was a bit fancy for that!
This is the floor of the buck barn after the concrete was poured and I "floated" it with a rake. It is angled for water drainage to the drain plug there--a feature that we're mighty proud of! David later floated it with a bull float so the surface is better--not so slick.
This is the new doe hay feeder. Until the chickens are moved, I wanted a feeder that they couldn't get into, but was easier to manage than our old feeder. This takes up no floor space in the barn or feed room and will allow goats to eat from both sides. I will likely run one more 2x4 under it for hoofs to stand upon, but not so low that it can be used as a roost.
This is the kidding pen prior to being completed. The outlets at the top will allow me to hang a heat lamp if necessary, as well as extra light, clippers, a fan, whatever is necessary.
Here, the wall at the bottom of the kidding pen is completed. The pen also now has a gate and is currently housing some of our construction materials... They will get used in finishing fences and whatnot.
This is the bucks' new roost-proof hay feeder. It has a trap door from the buck side hay loft overhead, so I can feed hay right into the feeder without going in with the bucks. I enjoy spending time with all my animals, bucks included, but I don't enjoy getting trampled with food in my hands!
This is the concrete outside the doe barn, under the covered overhang. The waterer will serve both the doe pen and the outside (dogs and does when they're outside of their night pen).
Today after David gets home from work and I'm finished homeschooling the kiddos, we will work on preparing for the 4th load of concrete and if time, I'll start working on the fence that will go around the waterer. We're not sure what's more exciting, getting goats (and some exceptionally wonderful ones at that!) again, or having facilities that will make their management more efficient. We are truly blessed!
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