Or as Hubby might say, How To Not Build Your Own Calf Shed.  🙂 We started to work on a calf shed so when we weaned them, they would have a little warmer place to spend the winter months. Last year’s calves had a wind break and a big bale of hay nearby. It was sufficient, but they were still exposed to any rain or snow that fell. And freezing rain if we got any. We had lots of snow last year and it was very cold. They have a very good winter coat so the wind break was all they needed. I can hopefully use it for some extra shade for my horses and donkey if needed next summer. It is not real big. About 16×8 feet. At least it doesn’t look that big to me.

Hubby thinks it is not very well built probably, but barring a tornado, or straight line winds, it is not going anywhere. I think he is doing a good job on it. He knows what to do and I did what he told me to do as I don’t know the first thing about building anything, let alone a calf shed. Or shed of any kind for that matter. We started on a cold windy day November 1. We really should have started it in September or October. The weather was nicer those months.

First we had to mark where we wanted the first hole dug, then ran a string in what was supposed to be a straight line. For the most part it was, but when we got to the last post in on the north side, well it was 3 inches to the south from the first post. Could be I told him wrong when he started digging with the post hole digger on the tractor. He was depending on me to tell him where to drop the digger next to the string. Oh well. It works. The calves won’t mind I guess.

Then got the post hole digger to the spot and started digging.

The hole needs to be cleaned out more by hand with the hand post hole digger so the post will hopefully set in straight. This is harder than you think. At least for me. I am too fat and old to be doing that kind of stuff!  🙂   I tried to help Hubby out some with this, but I didn’t last too long. And I can’t get as much dirt in it as he can.

And the first post is in, filled with dirt and tamped down to hold it tight. I did help with the tamping. I can do that a little better than digging out the dirt. We use two metal pipes with an end on it and punch and poke the dirt in tight around the post until it is all filled back in. That is the best way I can describe it. Only five more posts to go to complete the north side. 🙂

All of the cows and horses came up to see what we were doing. They were very curious for awhile. The donkey didn’t come up as close.

And good old Bear can’t stand to be away from me for very long. He laid in the bare dirt in the cold wind until I let him through the electric gate that he didn’t know he could get under. If he really thought about it, he could have. I don’t know why he likes me so much. He likes Hubby, but all the dogs seem to think I am their best friend. Guess I am but I don’t want Hubby to feel left out.

Finally three of the five posts are in and 8 feet of the 16 feet of the north wall is up. I’m ready to go in and warm up and eat something! End of the first day of building a calf shed. Well, it’s the end after the second wall went up. 🙂

November 2, 2014. We worked on the shed some more and made a little more progress. It is going pretty slowly for just the two of us.

Poor Diamond and Lily want out on the grass so bad. They are penned up by themselves because Diamond, the dark horse has foundered, and Lilly has neck founder I think. She has a very cresty neck.

And our borrowed bull wanted to take a selfie today while he was watching us.

I will be breaking up the post about the shed because it is taking quite a long time to get it done. We had a rainy weekend and had to be gone a day here and there. So this is the first post.  I thought I had more pictures of the shed on November 2, but I may have gotten them in with another date when I was trying to sort them out. So, until next time:

Stay Safe and God Bless!

❤