Goat shelter building in Teignmouth
Looking for professional goat shelter building help in Teignmouth? Hembury Contracting provides reliable rural services across Teignmouth and surrounding areas.
Price Guide
Call for quote
Typical Duration
1-2 days
Location
Teignmouth
Goat shelters built to spec - dry, well-ventilated space sized for your herd. Built strong enough to handle goats being goats, which is saying something.
### Goats Need Proper Shelter
If your goats are making do with a leaky shed or no shelter at all, you're setting yourself up for **health problems and vet bills**. Goats hate rain and wind, and they're prone to respiratory issues if they can't get properly dry. A decent shelter pays for itself in healthier animals.
> 💡 **Pro tip:** Goat shelters need to be tougher than sheep or horse shelters. Goats climb, chew, barge, and generally test everything. Build it properly first time or you'll be doing repairs constantly.
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### Purpose-Built vs Making Do
| ✅ Proper Goat Shelter | ❌ Makeshift Setup | |-----------------------|-------------------| | Sized right for your herd | Too small, goats fighting for space | | Good ventilation, stays dry | Damp, causes respiratory problems | | Goat-proof construction | They escape or break it within weeks | | Positioned for drainage | Floor gets waterlogged and muddy | | Easy to clean and bed | Awkward design makes maintenance hell |
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### What Goes Into A Goat Shelter
Every shelter is different depending on what you need, but here's typical components:
**📦 Structure** - Timber frame (pressure-treated) - Roof (usually corrugated tin or onduline) - Cladding (timber boards or sheet) - Door/gate if needed - Ventilation gaps high up
**🏗️ The Build Process**
| Stage | What's Involved | |-------|-----------------| | **Plan** | Discuss size, position, materials, budget | | **Base** | Prepare ground or build floor frame | | **Frame** | Construct timber frame, set square and level | | **Roof** | Fit roofing with overhang for weather protection | | **Clad** | Add walls - usually open front, solid back and sides | | **Finish** | Doors, ventilation, final weatherproofing |
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### Pricing
Can't give fixed prices - every goat shelter is different. What affects cost:
- Size (number of goats) - Materials (budget vs premium) - Site access and ground conditions - Additional features (gates, hay racks, storage) - Whether you want me to supply materials or you source them
**Typical range:** £800-£2000+ for materials and labor, but **call for a proper quote** once I know what you actually need.
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### Essential For Devon Goat Keepers If...
✅ **Wet exposed sites** - goats need shelter from Devon rain and wind
✅ **Multiple goats** - proper space for the whole herd
✅ **Health problems** - shelter sorted usually means healthier goats
✅ **Long term keeping** - invest in proper housing once, use it for years
Why Choose Us for Goat shelter building in Teignmouth?
Dry shelter sized for your herd
Good ventilation - goats hate damp
Goat-proof fixings and latches
Durable materials that'll last
What to Expect
### Step 1: Site Discussion I'll visit or work from photos and measurements. We'll discuss how many goats, where it's going, what materials you want, and what your budget is. I'll advise on sizing, positioning for drainage, and design that works. ### Step 2: Quote You'll get a detailed quote for materials and labor. If you're supplying materials yourself, I'll give you a spec of what's needed. We agree the design and price before anything starts. ### Step 3: The Build Depending on complexity, building takes 1-2 days typically. Ground prep, frame construction, roofing, cladding, finishing. You'll have a shelter that's ready to use and built to last.
Our Teignmouth Service Coverage
We cover Teignmouth and a 30-mile radius from Exeter, meaning you get local service with the backing of an established business. Whether you're in the centre of Teignmouth or in the surrounding villages, we're here to help.
Good to Know
> 🐐 **Goat behavior:** They will test everything. If there's a weak point, they'll find it. If something can be climbed, they'll climb it. If a latch looks workable, they'll work it. Build everything as if you're trying to contain Houdini with horns. **Positioning:** Site it on ground that drains well - goats hate standing in mud. Slight slope away from the shelter entrance is ideal. Avoid low spots that collect water. **Bedding:** Shelters need regular bedding (straw or wood shavings) and mucking out. Design with access in mind - a shelter you can't muck out easily won't stay clean. **Social animals:** Goats are herd animals - don't keep just one. If you have two, build shelter for three. They need personal space and will fight if too crowded. **Electric fencing:** Even with a shelter, you probably need electric fencing for the paddock. Goat-proof fencing is a whole other challenge - they're notorious escapers. **Planning:** Generally you don't need planning permission for agricultural buildings under a certain size (4m high max usually), but check if you're in a conservation area or it's a listed building. Building regs don't normally apply to simple livestock shelters.
Frequently Asked Questions about Goat shelter building in Teignmouth
How big does a goat shelter need to be?
Rule of thumb is about 3-4 square metres per goat for shelter space. They don't live in there full-time, just need somewhere dry to get out of rain and wind. So two goats need roughly a 2x3m or 2x4m shelter minimum. Add extra if you're planning to expand the herd or want hay storage inside.
What makes a shelter goat-proof?
Goats are escape artists and destroyers. Everything needs proper fixings they can't undo - no simple latches. Timber needs to be robust enough they can't chew through or barge through. Roof needs to be solid - they'll try climbing on it. And no gaps they can squeeze through or get heads stuck in. Basically, build it like a fortress.
Do goats need anything special for ventilation?
Yes - goats are really susceptible to respiratory problems from damp, poorly ventilated shelters. You need airflow near the roof level to let moisture out, but no drafts at goat level. Often means vents high up, overhang on the open side, and not shutting them in too tight. Better slightly draughty than damp.
Can you build on my existing base or do I need groundwork?
Goat shelters can go on various bases - concrete slab is ideal but expensive, compacted hardcore and paving slabs works fine, even just level ground with a raised timber floor. I'll advise what's appropriate for your site and budget. If you need groundwork doing first, that's separate from the shelter build.
How much does a goat shelter cost?
Impossible to quote without knowing size, materials, site conditions, and what you want. A basic 2x3m timber field shelter might be £600-800 in materials plus labor. Something larger, more robust, or with specific features costs more. Send me photos and dimensions and I'll work up a proper quote.
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01392 964094Request Online QuotePricing for Teignmouth
* Same rates for all locations in our service area
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