Fix a Wet Pig Shelter with DIY Gutters

Why You Need This Checklist

Ever walked into your pig shelter after a heavy rain and felt your stomach sink at the sight of standing water and mud? You know that sick feeling — the muck, the smell, the worry about your animals' hooves and health. You patch it, you add bedding, you hope for the best, and then it rains again. It never quite gets fixed.

Here's the thing most small-farm owners don't realize: the water isn't coming up from the ground. It's coming off the roof. A 12-by-14-foot shelter roof can shed nearly 90 gallons of water in a single inch of rain event — and in a two-inch storm, that's close to 200 gallons pouring right back under your animals' feet. No amount of wood chips fixes a problem that's being refilled every single storm.

Imagine walking out the morning after a big overnight rain and seeing your pigs dry, comfortable, and resting on a clean surface. The gutter is full, the water is channeled away, and the ground under the shed is actually dry. That's not a fantasy — that's what a $100 gutter install can do for your livestock shelter, even if you've never hung a gutter in your life.

Justin Rhodes — the homesteader behind the popular Justin Rhodes channel and one of the most trusted voices in regenerative farming — tackled this exact problem in real time, with a rain deadline looming and teenage sons hauling supplies. He documented every mistake, every measurement surprise, and every jerry-rigged solution so you don't have to figure it out alone in the mud. He found out the hard way that gutters involve more than just a long aluminum channel — there are end caps, seam connectors, strap hangers, downspout extensions, sealant, and a specific order of operations that matters.

This checklist distills everything from that video into a clear, sequential action plan. You'll know exactly what to measure, what to buy (with estimated costs), what tools to grab, what order to assemble things, and what to watch for when the rain finally comes. No more guessing at the hardware store. No more mid-install YouTube rabbit holes. Just a dry shelter and healthier, happier pigs.

What's Inside — Preview

Every checklist item comes with actionable notes to guide you — things like "Don't forget to do this before you start," "Avoid this common mistake," or "Set a reminder for 30 days out." Nothing vague, just clear next steps.

CHECK Observe and diagnose where the water is entering the shelter

MEASURE Calculate your roof's water catchment volume before buying anything

MEASURE Measure the exact length of the roofline where gutters will be installed

DO Add wood chips to the wet interior as an immediate temporary relief

PLAN Create a shopping list of all 10 gutter components before heading to the store

+ 15 more action items inside...

Fix a Wet Pig Shelter with DIY Gutters

Why You Need This Checklist

What's Inside — Preview

Get the Full Checklist