New to Goats - Sleeping shelves?

[bj taylor]

I wanted to create "shelves" too, but didn't have the means. I did have an old porch about 10 x 10. I cut the weak rotten legs off & laid the top in the goat pen. they seem to like to lay on it as much as the ground. if I don't get their pen cleaned every day, I at least broom off their 'shelf' so they have a clean place to sleep.

 

[NaturesPace]

are you putting straw on the shelf? we have been putting straw on the ground, but it can get expensive to keep clean. they poo a lot in their shed.
should i keep most of the shed a dry lot and have shelves for them to sleep on that have straw?
is straw just something we think they need and they would be fine just on a solid dry surface?

 

[junkprospector]

Yeah, i have straw on the shelves - no luck...
I also tried some plush carpet remnants as a sleeping mat... no luck.
They really seem to like crowding under the lowest shels and snuggling together. I guess whatever makes them happy... if they're good, i'm good.

 

[elevan]

Straw isn't needed on the shelves / pallets. An elevated, dry, clean spot to relax is all that they need / want.

 

[junkprospector]

do they need to have any type of a edge on them or anything? mine are just a shelf made of plywood, secured/supported by 2x4's on both sides. they're sturdy... my 6 year old climbed up on them LOL

 

[elevan]

No edge necessary, mine were just solid wood pallets.

 

[NaturesPace]

This is great. We were having trouble getting straw that wasn't treated with herbicides. We want to be able to put our hay in the compost pile and use that in the garden. In the winter they are ok with out bedding too?

They do love napping on their new playground that we built them.

Thanks for all the info.

 

[OneFineAcre]

This is great. We were having trouble getting straw that wasn't treated with herbicides. We want to be able to put our hay in the compost pile and use that in the garden. In the winter they are ok with out bedding too?

They do love napping on their new playground that we built them.

Thanks for all the info.

I used to use wheat straw myself. To much work to clean out.. I get the pine shavings from TSC now. Soaks up the urine and is so much easier to clean out.

I don't know about the herbicide issue though. I don't worry about that stuff too much myself.