Maintain Good Ventilation

Design the shelter with ventilation openings positioned above goat height to allow continuous air exchange without creating drafts at floor level. For enclosed structures, install ridge vents, eave gaps, or high windows. A three-sided shed provides natural ventilation through its open front.

Why It Works

Ammonia from urine and manure accumulates quickly in poorly ventilated shelters and damages goat respiratory tissue within days. Excess moisture promotes bacterial and fungal growth in bedding. Proper airflow above the animals removes these hazards while the lower zone stays draft-free and warm.

Tips

• Place vents on opposite walls to create cross-ventilation in fully enclosed shelters
• Never seal a shelter completely, even in winter -- goats tolerate cold far better than stale, ammonia-laden air
• If you can smell ammonia at goat nose height (about 18 inches off the floor for miniatures), ventilation is inadequate