Hutches in Cold Housing. Calf hutches have proven to be an excellent way to house calves.
Only one calf occupies each hutch. Typical hutches are 4x8x 4. Fig 2 illustrates plywood construction. Leave one end of the hutch open and provide a wire fence enclosure so the calf can move outside. Optional tethers can be used where predators are not a problem. Seal tightly all other sections of the hutch, except for the front and bottom, to reduce the wind blowing through the hutch in winter.
During summer, the rear of the hutch can be blocked up 6 to allow for cross ventilation or design an opening in the rear of the hutch with a tight fitting door. There are also a variety of prefabricated plasticfiberglass hutches on the market. Hutches made of a translucent material require shade in summer. Summer shade reduces heat stress on all types of hutches. Provide enough shade to allow hutches to be moved.