Framing the Pallet Cattle Panel Barn (until the wind ruined it)

A few months ago I built a barn out of cattle panels and pallets to be used as a milking parlor for our future Dexter family milk cow that we never got. I still need to frame the building to support a snow load so I have a place for the winter hay. Things go awry when a powerful wind storm sweeps through the area.
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[@thelyonfamily1456]

Glad I watched this video before I built one similar for my horses. I live on the Texas coast and have been looking for better ways to manage the farm due to the excessive winds and rains we get on a regular basis. I’m Glad no one was hurt thankfully!

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I framed it not long after I filmed this video and it's still standing strong six years later after a lot of heavy snow loads and heavy wind storms.

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

I'm so glad no one was injured when that thing came down! Where I live, in the southern Sierra region of California, winds like that are a regular occurrence -- Even wood-sided structures have been known to relocate in neighbors' yards; tarps can travel to the next county, lol. Love the King of the Bales with that awesome dragon shirt! I also love your good-natured determination to persevere. You're a role model for all of us neo-hillbillies.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

neo-hillbillies!! haha! :)

[@hotrodpetesgarage699]

Love that you include your son in your videos. I tune in for him as much as the harrows and successes of your homesteading efforts. His purity and exuberance are redeeming, and uplifting. Your son is a gift from God and you are blessed.

[@jodyflores601]

I love watching people move forward even when hick ups arise. Little Buddy will have great memories on those hay bales, I know I do. My siblings and I use to make forts out of straw bales in the barn loft. Goodness, it keep us busy and out of trouble for hours. lol Thanks for sharin', appreciate it. :)

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

You're welcome Jody! Thank you for the support

[@HiddenMeadowFarm]

Good job in keeping at it.

[@brianwhite9555]

Yeah, I don't know how many of my projects I wish I had completed the day before. Wind, rain, snow, freezing temps are just a few things that can set you back. The former milk parlor will do fine once you get it framed and braced. You might think of using pallet material to close off one of the arched ends the cattle panels create, providing more wind protection for the animals. It looked like the amount of hay shown could be stacked much higher, making more room for the next delivery. Depending on how you 'pack' the carport, you may be able to park there this winter. Best wishes!

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Thanks Brian!

[@tradcathomestead8179]

Dan, you might want to take that tarp off of there for the time being until you get all of your support framed up. That thing will be way more stable and easier to get the framing put in place without all of the resistance the tarp provides and you'll be able to safely work in there when the wind kicks up....might get a little bit wet when it rains though! Keep moving forward and learning you're getting there!!! You're construction projects are getting better...there's a bit of a learning curve to retraining you brain to building vs. your previous line of work.---Dave

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Yes, excellent suggestion. I have to take it off to do the ridge beam anyway. Thanks for the feedback Dave. Learning curve indeed

[@icejax4]

Dan, I was thinking about doing this as well. I have a suggestion or thought... what if you brought the ends of the cattle panels about 2 to 3 feet down on each side of the pallets? Do you think that would help with the integrity of the arched roof? Seems like the large amount of head room may be slightly to much. I'm building mine for goats not a cow.

[@MrScoresby]

Maybe time to get out the post hole digger and set a couple of those 4x4 posts in the ground. Add mid point framing and two ridge poles to staple the cattle panels to. You don't want to have animals under a collapsing structure. Maybe the farmer in the sky was sending a message on the wind. Bert

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I have 4x6 ridge poles that I wasn't able to install yet. It is coming soon

[@brianphilbrook5262]

That car port does have the looks of a nice barn with the rough wood. That's too bad about your cattle panel building that's just made more work for you now. Good luck

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Yeah, it is looking much better with the wood siding

[@joansmith3492]

Your garage barn looks cool.

[@CanadianFarmGirl1]

I remember friends of ours having a rope swing hanging in the hay loft. Its was a great childhood memory of mine. Little buddy would have a blast!!

[@margaretbedwell58]

Plan B C D etc. No failures, just adjustments. haha. Have a Blessed day.

[@nancysutton7891]

OK... I"ve got to go back and start at the beginning, to see the D. cow story :) And you've been putting out some especially interesting stuff! Thx

[@Kallaxo]

Hey Dan, nice little set up for the hay in the old carport. I did notice the back above the hay is open, not sure if rain and stuff can reach the hay but may consider covering it or laying a tarp if you can. I live in FL and so seeing all your hay all I see is $$$ as it is very expensive to buy hay down here. I will be getting a delivery this month to get us thru "winter" with 3 horses. Keep up the good work, you are still new with this and I am as well- there are mistakes that will be made !

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Yes, you are right. I am getting a tarp for the hay. The gables will be closed in sometime in the next week. So far the rain hasn't been blowing in but that could change

[@AD66Liberty]

Dan. The hay bales will support the roof. For your frames, add some 1x material on the diagonal across the top corners to stiffen the square frames.

[@CleoCastonguay47]

What a let down... Nature sure has awesome ways to show her strength and power. I think you can definitely claim back your hay barn. Just make sure you build some support (45 degree angles) under each beam and cross post. Chin up old boy... You can do it !!! :)

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Thanks Cleo! We'll get it done!

[@666Necropsy]

nobody could have seen this one coming.

[@ChickaWoofRanch]

Ahhhh... the wind, our constant companion. What’s it like to not have wind? Makes it really hard to have a KZbin channel when it’s constantly blowing. I’m interested to see how you finish it up.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I know, the wind filters can only do so much

[@onedazinn998]

cattle panels are good for alot of things, but without trees or buildings to break winds those winter gusts are just too powerful for tarp structures. I live on the tops of hills and always get those strong western gusts over open pastures. How about finishing the roof with pallets if you are working with limited resources Dan? I do want to mention to you I have seen one person use cattle panels & even chicken wire on the top of their tarped structure to secure the flapping aspect of & add additional weight...if it were me I'd go for a more conventional roof structure with heavy woods & metals or polycarbonate screwed in place...you can still save money by employing the pallet wood and nailing wood on to it. I love that rough lumber you bought. Guess you'll be planning on expanding heavier infrastructure for next season :) God bless and hope the weather gives you a break.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I'm going to finish this structure with the cattle panels. Once the framing is complete, it will be quite solid. Future building will likely be done with a normal roof though

[@TheBeeperman]

Adapt and overcome.

[@jerryhoops4043]

I was thinking the same thing. Sure sure seems to be the motto of this homesteader as well as most Marines. As circumstances change the plans do also. Life is fluid. So since you were given lemons, I see that your plan now is to make lemonade. It sure is interesting following the progress of your homestead. Keep up the good work.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Thanks Jerry!

[@lindastimer3674]

if you would have taken the tarp off, the wind would have likely blown through without damage. I have cattle panels up without bracing that stands all year, no trouble.

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

U can park there if u stack the hay up, go all the way and shorten the stack

[@IslandZsurvivor]

if one can learn from others experience and ones mistakes, then maybe one shouldnt discount so quickly the advice of others..from first appearances, if you would have braced the 2 parts of your framing together, you may not have experienced the problem. then again, hindsight is 20/20. having played tetris as a youth, im not sure all of that hay was going to fit in that parlor anyway. chin up, keep at it, you can go your own way(as the song states), never fear utilizing someone elses help when applicable...and the resource you seem to have in spades. a positive attitude and the will to succeed.

[@akindofmagick]

Tried to sign up with Patreon tonight multiple times and kept getting an error. Will try again soon!!

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

It's probably a bad link. I need to fix that. Thank you for trying :)

[@craigmooring2091]

I think it would be a good idea to add some knee braces at those right angle joints, along with adding ridge poles.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

That was the plan before the wind storm had its way

[@craigmooring2091]

Yeah, as Bobby Burns said "The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglay."!

[@eddiebrevet4000]

Braced with r bar, anchored down with steel posts, quality greenhouse plastic between two panels, be able to take a lot, if not too large.

[@ginoy007]

Why didn't you get the milk cow?

[@gardenlady1293]

hang in there. tomorrow is a new day..

[@josephrodrick6451]

So what is the the square footage of this structure? Just ask because I understand that the initial plan was for cattle . . . Oh, also, what size are the cattle panels? Thank you for the share, and your time with addressing my concerns, Sincerely

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

200 sq' - panels are 16'x4'

[@lorinolen4253]

do the cattle panels collapse often? I think I am going to do some other type of "roof"

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

With heavy wind or any snow, they will collapse

[@lindawilson5937]

about how wide u got that we want to make a sleeping rooms for goats on ec, side how much room would we have

[@shawngibbs6535]

What happened to getting a dexter?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

TBD

[@mrsgbee8246]

Couldn't you use the hay to hold up the cattle pannels?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

It would create access difficulties

[@Liz-ww3cm]

Tarp touching hay seems to invite mold trouble. Better for the tarp to never touch the hay, so any condensation running down the tarp won't ruin the hay.

[@greatsheltercn1113]

your boy is very charming, very nice boy

[@thisismeumbass]

Where do you get all of your pallets?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

local farm store

[@thisismeumbass]

The Grass-fed Homestead thank you sir.

[@duckmaster5074]

First