Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Flooring
Most goat keepers prefer concrete flooring because it is easy to keep clean. It can easily be
mopped with bleach. Concrete does not absorb urine, so moisture will accumulate on its sur-
face. If you design the floor so there is a central gutter (outside the stalls of course), or if the
floor slopes slightly so urine and wash water will run toward a gutter in the side of the stall or
pen, it will not be difficult to keep your stalls dry and urine free. A concrete floor is cold and
hard, so you will have to be diligent about providing adequate bedding material for insulation.
Wood or hard dirt floors are softer and stay warmer than concrete. However, wood will tend
to absorb moisture (and urine) and will be susceptible to rot and mold. It will be more difficult
to keep clean. Dirt floors have a similar problem: urine will soak into the floor and make mud,
on which your goats will lie. It will be difficult to disinfect the floor with a bleach wash or
other detergent because it will soak into the dirt. You will not be able to disinfect a dirt floor
because it is impossible to wash away detergents safely. Keep these factors in mind when de-
ciding on flooring for your goat shelter.
Sleeping platforms
Goats like sleeping platforms — simple wooden platforms raised a few inches off the floor in
their resting area. These keep goats up off a cold, hard floor and away from rodents or insects
that might be active in their bedding at night. They are also cooler in summer because air cir-
culates underneath. Make these platforms movable or with removable slats so you can clean
underneath. They should be lightly covered with bedding.
Bedding
Regardless of what sort of floor you have, you must provide bedding in the stalls and rest
areas so goats can find warmth and so they do not develop pressure sores from lying on hard
surfaces. Straw makes the best litter, but you can use sawdust or peat. About 1 pound of straw
per goat should be added to the bedding per day. Urine and fecal matter will accumulate at the
bottom of your goats' bedding, creating a damp area underneath. As long as you have enough
thickness on top of this to keep your goats dry, the damp area is acceptable and, in fact, un-
avoidable. Fresh dry hay can be spread on top of the bedding every day, a method called deep
littering. In some conditions, the layers underneath will begin to compost, creating extra
warmth for your goats. The deep mattress of straw bedding needs to be cleaned out about
once every three months and replaced with fresh bedding to control odor and insects. Do not
