How to Build a Small Livestock Shed and Yard

Families living in rural areas often enjoy keeping a small number of goats, sheep or pigs in their large backyard. Instead of building a barn or sinking posts for acres of paddock and pasture, they can build a small livestock shed and yard that is easy to maintain and quite sufficient for a few animals. Learn how to build the shed and enclosure to house small livestock species.

Livestock Shed and Yard - Materials Needed

To build a small livestock shed and yard on your property, you should start with a pre-fabricated garden shed with a large door in the front. You will also need four by four inch posts, rolls of wire fencing, fence staples, a pair of sturdy hinges and hardware, and large eye-bolts. A hammer, electric saw, measuring tape, and chalk or a thick pencil is also needed.

Livestock Shed and Yard - Building the Shed

Position the pre-built shed on your property where you wish the livestock run to be. Remove one the doors with a screwdriver. Lean the removed door up against the opposite wall of the shed and trace around it with your chalk or pencil. Use an electric saw to cut out this shape with a small margin extra. Attach the removed door to this opening with sturdy hinges and a locking hasp on the other side. Having a door on both sides of the livestock shed will help with air flow and cleaning.

Unroll a length of sturdy wire fencing long enough to reach across the opening made by the single door you just installed. Using long fence staples, attach this to the inside wall of the doorway opening. It must be tall enough to keep whatever type of livestock you own from getting out.

Livestock Shed and Yard - Building the Yard

Once the shed is complete, you must build a livestock yard for your animals to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Lay out the outline of the yard you wish to make with a rope or garden hose. Begin to dig holes at least three feet deep for the four-by-four posts directly next to the front corners of the shed.

Space the four-by-four posts no more than four feet apart around the entire outside of the yard. Near the most convenient corner of the shed, plant two posts closer together to form the framework for a simple gate.

Make sure to put the wooden posts in level and tamp the dirt down securely. You may use concrete in the holes for a more permanent structure.

Run the tall metal fencing around the outside of the posts, attaching it securely with fence staples. Use the eye-bolts and hooks to attach the final end of the wire fencing to the last post to form a basic gate. Your livestock shed and yard are now complete and ready for animals.