Turn out pens

I am starting to make some plans to get my barn ready for my niece's feeder calves.  What is a good size turnout pen for 2 feeder calves?  In the barn they will be penned in either a 12'x12' or 12'x24' pen.  I am hoping the 12'x12' pen will be big enough for them during the day. 

I would think that is to small. 12x24 sounds good.

KMJCC said:

I am starting to make some plans to get my barn ready for my niece's feeder calves.  What is a good size turnout pen for 2 feeder calves?  In the barn they will be penned in either a 12'x12' or 12'x24' pen.  I am hoping the 12'x12' pen will be big enough for them during the day. 

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Generally, if you're limited in how much space you can allocate to them, long and narrow is better than square.  The longer space encourages them to walk up and back. I'd agree that a minimum for them should be 12 x 24.  If possible, I'd go another 12 feet in length.

I may not understand the question correctly but I think they were asking how big to make the outside pens that they would turn out into at night. Mine are approximately 50 feet wide and 300 yards long. RW

ROAD WARRIOR said:

I may not understand the question correctly but I think they were asking how big to make the outside pens that they would turn out into at night. Mine are approximately 50 feet wide and 300 yards long. RW

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I read it just like you did, RW, except I had the impression (shouldn't go with "impressions", right?) that she had limited  outdoor space. I'd sure rather have a nice big corral like you're describing if there's enough room.

my runs are 16 feet wide and 400 feet long feed hay at the far end to make them travel it we ussually have 2-5 calves in a run then out side of that is a large pen if we have a bigger group inside barn  would do a 12x12 for each calf only way I would go smaller is if I tie them up then 12 long and 4 foot wide fro each animal

We stall during the day in 8'x16' pens and turn out at night into a 85'x50' exercise pen.

To help clear up my question I want to know what size my outisde turn out pen should be.  The inside of my barn is setup in 12'x12' pens or I can open them up and go 12'x24'.  I have roughly an area lot fenced in around my barn but I thought that is would be to big and was thinking about cutting it down.

I like mine long and narrow. RW

Our outside runs are 20' by 425' long.  Would like them to be longer but ran out of real estate on that corner of the farm.  At 20' wide the kids and their dog can get the calves or a cow in by them selves as each run goes into a 12' x 14' pen inside the barn.  Also have a four acre pasture at the far end of the runs that we turn heifers out into some times when they need the Jenny Craig paddock.
<cowboy>

KMJCC said:

To help clear up my question I want to know what size my outisde turn out pen should be.  The inside of my barn is setup in 12'x12' pens or I can open them up and go 12'x24'.  I have roughly an area lot fenced in around my barn but I thought that is would be to big and was thinking about cutting it down.

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I would say 1 calf in each 12x12 pen or both of them together in the 12x24 while in the barn, and then at night let them in your big pen outside. It will be pletny of room for them.

The bigger the better.  Just make it easy to get them into the barn.  Funnel them to the alley going into the barn to save yourself lots of chasing when they don't want to come in in the mornings.

For two feeders turn out at night pens, they don't have to be that large. If they are steers and you just want to get them outside you don't have alot of room. How much room do you have to work with. If you just want to set up pipe gates verses run fence etc?