Rearing calves outdoors?

cloudroost · 22-02-2012 12:00pm #1

Does anybody have any experience of rearing calves ourdoors in some sort of hutch /outdoor shelter? - I have promised the kids I'll get them a calf each (they have their money saved and are ready to go...), but I don't have any buildings on my land at the moment..
My thoughts are to wait until April and buy some sort of calf hutch or possibly make up one of my own. I'll need 3 calves for the kids, but would probably buy up to 20 if outdoor rearing is possible.

PatQfarmer · 22-02-2012 1:28pm

Lots of dairy farmers use the hutches now. They seem a healthy environment for calves. JFC website has all the info.
best of luck:)

Tipp Man · 22-02-2012 1:42pm

How much are those hutches for 8-10 calves?

Have heard a thousand quid bandied about

bbam · 22-02-2012 1:50pm

It is possible with late calves. Weve done it at the mothers house as she enjoys having them.
For four calves we knock in fence posts. Sheet of galvanise horizontal for three sides on the ground and across the top too. It leaves a gap between side and roof sheets.
Make it on a dry site and bed with straw. Half an hour to put up.
Hutches are big money.

cloudroost · 22-02-2012 2:06pm

I think 1000+ for a new one - I've seen a few secondhand ones aroung for about 600.
I think I prefer bbams idea - a few sheets of galavanise and a few stakes.
Its a long time since I reared calves - Are they smart enough to head into the shelter if the conditions outside are bad?

lakill Farm · 22-02-2012 2:14pm

normally no, the dopes do stand out in the middle of the field and only seek shelther on nice sunny days, compared to a suckler calf that the cow will wind break for them.

I like bbam idea also. you could encourage them in with a calf lick or a bit of crunch

bbam · 22-02-2012 2:14pm

We've done it a few times and never had a problem with them staying out in bad weather. That said the mother would baby them alot and probably makes sure they do.

PatQfarmer · 22-02-2012 4:59pm

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/dairycattle/3040597

They are out there...:D

cloudroost · 22-02-2012 5:56pm

I'd noticed that one, but it seems small for 8 calves (and not cheap either...)

I think I'll go down the DIY route and see what I come up with.

Thanks for all the replies.

pakalasa · 22-02-2012 7:27pm

See pic of made shelter on the following, page 10;
http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark/Articles/RearingHealthyCalves_201101.pdf

bbam · 22-02-2012 7:40pm

pakalasa wrote: »

See pic of made shelter on the following, page 10;
http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark/Articles/RearingHealthyCalves_201101.pdf

Thats nice..
If faced into a hedge, maybe 3 feet back it would be very comfortable indeed.

Sam Kade · 22-02-2012 8:43pm

http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark/Articles/RearingHealthyCalves_201101.pdf

I made a make shift hutch like the one in the picture last time I had calves. My one had stakes at the corners and middle pallets for the floor and walls and galv sheeting on top. In windy and wet weather I put a tarp around the walls to keep out the wind and took it off in calm weather. The front opening was facing a ditch.

epfff · 23-02-2012 12:09am

Sam Kade wrote: »

http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark/Articles/RearingHealthyCalves_201101.pdf

I made a make shift hutch like the one in the picture last time I had calves. My one had stakes at the corners and middle pallets for the floor and walls and galv sheeting on top. In windy and wet weather I put a tarp around the walls to keep out the wind and took it off in calm weather. The front opening was facing a ditch.

I have done it with late calves with a small hen house in corner of garden no probs the meal was left in there to encourage them in
Possoably an old transit body or trailer would get ya out 1st year til you see where you are going

Rearing calves outdoors?

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