Review: ShelterLogic Small Livestock Portable Shelter
We were on the hunt for a low cost, easy to assemble and maintain shelter to give our sheep another place for relief from the heat and elements. Our search led us to ShelterLogic — a company that makes a number of different sized and shaped structures for different use cases including car ports, greenhouses, and sheds. We have found that the ShelterLogic Small Livestock Portable Shelter is an excellent option for homesteaders looking to provide additional protection for their sheep and other small livestock. The structure is made of metal framing and a heavy duty, 100% waterproof, tarp-like material. The assembly and installation process takes around two hours and requires two people to complete. It also comes with easy-to-understand instructions.
One of the standout features of this shelter is the great visibility it provides, allowing you to easily monitor the status of your animals. The covering material has proven strong enough to withstand everything a Wisconsin summer and winter can throw at it, and the framing sturdy enough to withstand 60+ MPH wind and the occasional sheep looking for a scratching post. In our experience, the sheep prefer it over their three-sided building during the hot summer weather as they get the shade from the sun they need but also the tunnel shape allows a breeze to blow through.
One thing to note, I strongly recommend purchasing better ground anchors. The anchors that come with the shelter are the auger type that you twist and turn into the ground. For an extra $50, ShelterLogic offers their EasyHook Ratchet TITE anchor system. These are an anchor that you drive into the ground with a metal rod and hammer that then connect to ratchet straps — allowing you to easily adjust and tighten the building to the ground. These anchors have successfully weathered multiple storms with wind speeds in excess of 60+ MPH and have shown no signs of wear or movement. After installing them, for at least the first few days and after the first major storm, you should check everything and tighten as necessary.
If you think this unit would be a good solution for you and your livestock, I would recommend thinking of it as a supplementary structure to a primary building that has at least three sides. Otherwise if you want this to be your singular primary animal shelter, you should really consider figuring out a way to block one of the sides, especially if you live somewhere with harsh winters.
Overall, we are thrilled with our purchase of the ShelterLogic Small Livestock Portable Shelter and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable and easy-to-use shelter for their sheep and other small livestock. We have had our shelter for 9 months, and it looks as new as the day we built it. We can’t wait to get a few more!
Cons
You must buy better ground anchors. We recommend the EasyHook Ratchet TITE Anchor Kit from ShelterLogic for an additional $50.
Pros
Cost ($250)
Easy to assemble
Strong and sturdy
Animals prefer it in the heat
Note: This is not a sponsored review. This unit was purchased with our own money.