homestead.fyi / FARROWING

A-Frame Farrowing Hut

A 5.5 x 8 ft A-frame hut for a sow and litter: plywood slopes on 2x4 rafter frames on ground-contact skids.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
68 x 95 inFloor
45 sq ftArea
30 inHeight
41°Pitch
6 to 10 hrBuild time
$242.66Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
3D view, framingsiding and roof removed
3D view, framing
Front elevation
Front elevation 68 5/8 in 39 5/8 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 96 in 39 5/8 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 68 5/8 in 96 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
12x495Ridge boardon edge
32x465Tieon edge, between the skids
32x447 1/2Rafter leftplumb cuts at 41.4°
32x447 1/2Rafter rightplumb cuts at 41.4°
12x6 GC95Skid lefton edge
12x6 GC95Skid righton edge

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Slope left 11/2 ply47 1/2 x 45 1/2
Slope left 21/2 ply47 1/2 x 45 1/2
Slope right 11/2 ply47 1/2 x 45 1/2
Slope right 21/2 ply47 1/2 x 45 1/2
Front gable left1/2 ply34 x 30door is the cutout, re-hung
Front gable right1/2 ply34 x 30door is the cutout, re-hung
Back gable left1/2 ply34 x 30
Back gable right1/2 ply34 x 30

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x4 x 10 ft
Tie 1 65Rafter left 1 47 3/8
2x4 x 10 ft
Tie 2 65Rafter right 1 47 3/8
2x4 x 8 ft
Ridge board 95
2x4 x 8 ft
Rafter left 2 47 3/8Rafter right 2 47 3/8
2x4 x 8 ft
Rafter left 3 47 3/8Rafter right 3 47 3/8
2x4 x 8 ft
Tie 3 65
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Skid left 95
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Skid right 95

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Slope left 147 1/2 x 45 1/2Slope left 247 1/2 x 45 1/2
Sheet 2: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Slope right 147 1/2 x 45 1/2Slope right 247 1/2 x 45 1/2
Sheet 3: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Front gable left34 x 30Front gable right34 x 30Back gable left30 x 34
Sheet 4: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Back gable right34 x 30

Shopping list $242.66 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x4x10 stud, SPFHome Depot2$5.46$10.92see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 stud, SPFHome Depot4$4.15$16.60see lumber cutting diagram
2x6x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot2$9.78$19.56see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's4$32.26$129.04see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot2$29.97$59.94
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)Home Depot1$6.60$6.60door
Total before tax$242.66
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Set the two skids parallel on level gravel, 68 in apart outside to outside, and check square by measuring both diagonals.
  2. Cut the three 2x4 ties and screw one across the skids at each end and the middle.
  3. Cut the six rafters with a 41.4° plumb cut at the top, and screw a pair to each tie, standing them up from both sides.
  4. Screw the ridge board along the top between the rafter pairs.
  5. Cut the four slope panels and the two gable ends from the sheet layouts. Screw the slopes to the rafters every 6 in, with the joint on the middle pair.
  6. Screw the gable ends on, keeping the door cutout in the front. Hang it from the top with a hinge so it flaps.
  7. Fill with 6 in of straw for the sow and haul the hut to a shaded spot with a chain around the skids.

Before you start