Barn Flooring

[hilabeans]

New member - first post!

I'm bringing home a set of triplet Pygmy/Nigerian dwarf crosses this weekend. These are my first goats, and first livestock of any kind. They are 6 weeks old and we are all terribly excited to have them. While we have been planning on bringing goats into our lives for some time, these babies came to us a little sooner that we were ready for them, so we are quickly building their barn and pen area now.

Their barn is 10x10. It has a raised plywood sub floor (sealed with patio paint), and a waterproof laminate flooring on top of it. My plan was to section off half of it for their stall and nighttime sleeping area, and cover with pine shaving bedding. I'm just really concerned about "weather proofing" it for the inevitable goat urine. Should I lay rubber matting down under the pine shavings in their stall? Should the plywood walls also be treated by something? Do goats spray urine or is the floor the main target? I plan to diligently clean to keep the smell as controlled as possible - but what else can I do to protect the walls and flooring from permanently absorbing urine?

Thank you in advance for your guidance!!

 

[Baymule]

All my animal floors are dirt because I don't want to deal with solid floors. I practice deep litter, letting it compost in place.

Congratulations on the new goats and welcome to the forum.

B&B Happy goats don't you have a solid floor?

 

[B&B Happy goats]

All my animal floors are dirt because I don't want to deal with solid floors. I practice deep litter, letting it compost in place.

Congratulations on the new goats and welcome to the forum.

B&B Happy goats don't you have a solid floor?

Nope, sand floor here...but some that do have a solid floor are using linoleum and they say it works....you can paint the walls with a latex gloss paint to help protect them from moisture and stains, that has been working for us ...so far (three years )
I had a solid wood floor in my barn years ago...two years later the floor was trash due to the goats and cows urine...and boy did it smell ..

 

[B&B Happy goats]

you may want to close up the housing for them during the day so they do most of their potty business outside...I have found that feeding our goats their second feeding early in the afternoon keeps the goat castle cleaner and makes for way less work here, by 12:30 they are screaming for that second meal and are quiet for the rest of the day.
Are you going to bottle feed them ?

 

[hilabeans]

They are 6 weeks old and I just picked them up today! They are eating hay and a mixed feed. They are ridiculously cute, but totally out of sorts since this is their first day away from their mom and herd. I’m just hanging out with them, allowing them to settle down un-harassed. My husband and I are putting the finishing touches on their barn and interior stall while they acquaint themselves with their new pen. I think we’re on the right got track and appreciate all the guidance!!

 

[animalmom]

Pictures woman! We respectfully request pictures of the kids, their new pen, their new house and then a few more of the kids. Please and thank you.

 

[hilabeans]

Yes, that is only fair!!

 

[animalmom]

So sweet! Cutie kids and a very posh set-up. You are hooked now! Thanks so much for the pics. We love them!!!!

 

[Baymule]

Very nice goat house and pen.

 

[ElenaDeborah11]

They look so cute and sweet!