Bedding

[pattersonb39]

New to barn stalls with goats and need suggestions.

 

[SA Farm]

I use straw in the winter and pine shavings in the summer

 

[elevan]

From this article: http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/housing-fencing-for-goats.10/

1. What type of bedding will you use?
   1. Pine Shavings – Make sure that they are dust free. We find that pine shavings work very well under chopped straw as bedding, especially in kidding pens.
   2. Pine Needles – If you have a lot of pine trees, this may be a good free option for you. Just collect the dropped and dried pine needles and bed your goat shelter with them.
   3. Straw – Straw comes in many varieties (oat, wheat and more). While you can use it as is, we find that chopped straw is more absorbent and effective. You can easily chop it by running it through a wood chipper / mulcher or putting it onto dry ground and running your push mower over it quickly. Then store it in old feed bags in a dry location until needed.
   4. Waste Hay – Many goat owners simply allow the hay wasted by goats that falls out of their hay feeder to stay on the floor and be used as bedding.
   5. Pelleted Horse Bedding – These work similarly to pine shavings as they are just compressed and pelleted versions of the same. Make sure that you follow manufacturer’s directions in how to “wet” the pellets so that they expand and your goats don’t think that they are food.
   6. Rubber Stall Mats – A great option if you are able use them. They are relatively easy to remove from the shelter to hose down as needed. I would recommend covering them with another type of bedding though.
   7. Peanut Hulls – If you are able to obtain large quantities of peanut hulls cheaply or free this could be a great option for you. Just be aware that your goats may eat a good portion of their “bedding” until they start urinating and defecating on it.

 

[taylorm17]

I use straw and also use hay sometimes.

 

[M.L. McKnight]

I have trouble finding enough straw to use on a regular basis so I just use hay. I tried shavings but those rascals have a wire crossed somewhere and think they are chips!

 

[elevan]

@pattersonb39 - I moved this thread from Goats-Feeding to Goats-Everything Else

 

[newbiekat]

We have a concrete floor so we like to line the bottom with pine shavings (to catch the moisture from the urine), and then we spread straw over top of it.