User:Casey boy/animal buildings
Understanding what tagging should be used for specific types of animal buildings can be difficult, especially since the names of such buildings may be highly specific or unique to English. For example, in English, there is no generic name for a building in which a mix of animals are housed, instead, we have a list of different types of buildings which tend to house specific animals.
Building vs building:use
It's important to remember that in OSM building=* describes the type of building whilst building:use=* describes its current function. Usually, building:use=* is only added if the function is different to the original design of the building. For example, if a barn is being used to house goats, then it might be tagged as building=barn + building:use=goat_shed. The tags below are types of building=*, but most can also be used with building:use=*.
The list below is organised by animal, with the corresponding building type shown. In general, it's best to be as specific as possible but if the design/usage is not known (e.g., it's not clear from imagery), chose a more general tag. When farms are mentioned, this also includes hobby farms or small holdings.
General
Farm auxiliary
A very generic term for any building on a farm that is not designed for human habitation (such as the farm house). This can include a building designed to house animals. However, if possible, it is better to be more specific about the building type (but be careful not to mix building type with current building usage). If the building is not on a farm then this tag is probably not appropriate.
Agricultural
A generic tag for any building designed for agricultural use, which may include housing of livestock. Potentially overlaps with building=farm_auxiliary.
Barn
A building that is designed for storage and/or a workplace, often on a farm or in an agricultural setting. Although not primarily designed for housing animals, some animals may be housed in a barn.
Livestock
A building designed for housing "livestock". Livestock can include a range of different animals but generally refers to animals used for harvesting (e.g., sheep for wool) or consumption (e.g., cattle for beef). Typically this sort of building will be on a farm but may also be located in other places, such as slaughterhouses. If possible, it is better to be more specific about the building type.
Animal boarding
This tag appears to have been used to map buildings inside amenity=animal_boarding facilities and is therefore likely to represent buildings that temporarily house pets (for example whilst their owners are on vacation). This is a generic value that might better be described using more specific values such as building=kennels if appropriate. It may also be that building:use=animal_boarding is more appropriate for these buildings.
Birds
A building designed for housing birds, larger than a typical bird house or cage, which usually permits some level of flight for the birds contained within. Typically not used for poultry farming (see "poultry" instead), instead used more for the displaying of birds kept as pets or as part of an exhibit.
Poultry (chickens, turkeys, etc)
A chicken coop is a small building, often movable, which is designed to house a relatively small number of chickens. Usually chickens will be given access to outdoor space in the day and return to the coop to roost in the evenings. Poultry farms are more likely to house chickens and other poultry inside a building=barn, sometimes known as "house" e.g., building=poultry_house, where hundreds or even thousands of birds can be housed.
Cows
A cowshed is specifically designed to house cattle (cows). Typically, the cattle are contained within an enclosed structure, with one side more open with the cattle secured in via feeding troughs or a fence.
Dogs
A singular building=kennel, or dog house, can range in size from a relatively small, movable shelter for a dog to a larger building with enclosed outdoor space. The building=kennels tag instead typically refers to a larger permanent building which may have several individual stalls or enclosures, housing multiple dogs. Multiple individual kennels (not part of the same building) should be mapped and tagged as separate building=kennel.
Goats
If the building has specifically been built to house goats, rather than livestock, then it can be tagged as a goat shed.
Horses
A stable is building specifically designed to house horses (or similar animals such as donkeys and mules). Usually, this will include individual stalls to keep the horses separated. Stables can range in size, with just a few horses housed to large buildings with numerous pens and work areas.