Housing Goats on Concrete Flooring

[PineBurrowPeeps]

I am planning to make some winter/kidding stalls in my barn very shortly, but the floor is poured concrete.
I worry about ammonia smell build up over the winter if they are inside for several days during bad snow, etc.
Anything I should do? Should I use shavings in a kidding stall or just straw? or both?

 

[redhen]

Quote:
i wonder if you can lay a piece if vinyl over the concrete..or a stall matt. I'd use shavings..and when its real cold out add straw over the shavings for more warmth..maybe?

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

I do have some stall mats I could put down but I worry about the urine getting trapped between the mat and the floor with no where to go. I just have no drains in the barn and in the freezing winters we get here I worry that it might have to go 2-3 months without a really heavy cleaning, you know? I will obviously be mucking out poo and big wet spots regularly, but it will need to probably go from mid-December to late March before I can tear it all out and hose it down and out the door.
Should I use Lyme or something under the shavings or stall dry?
I'm not worried poo at all, just urine odors.

 

[redhen]

I always used stall dry under the shavings and even those horse stall pellets under the shavings to soak up more urine. I hear ya about the winter time! Its a PIA! ooh, what about painting the floor with that stuff that seals the floor? So that way no urine can soak into the concrete.

 

[dixygirl]

The cement floor is fine. Just get a lot of bags of wood shavings so that it is very deep.
Actually, I prefer sawdust instead. That way you can use a kitty litter scoop to lift out the feces pearls. The sawdust will filter out of a litter scooper but the wood shavings would all be wasted.

 

[Cara]

Wouldn't there be a risk of respiratory problems with sawdust, particularly with the young kids and the goats spending long periods of time indoors?

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

That's what I was wondering Cara...
When I used to work at a Mini Horse breeding farm we didn't ever use even shavings in a foaling stall because the foals can inhale them.

 

[helmstead]

I love the idea of sealing the floor, but I also bet it's expensive.

I would use stall mats. ample shavings and keep LOTS of PDZ on hand. Lift the mats regularly to air the floor/treat with PDZ and reapply the mats.

Large fluffy pine shavings are fine for kidding stalls...but the finer shavings sold as EZ Pick, etc, are too fine.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I love the idea of sealing the floor, but I also bet it's expensive.

Probably not as bad as you would think

http://www.ugl.com/drylokMasonry/masonryWaterproofer/latex.php

Latex Base DRYLOK

Masonry Waterproofer is a low odor, water clean-up formula for waterproofing all interior, exterior, above or below grade masonry walls, cinder and concrete blocks, stucco, brick, retaining walls, basements, concrete swimming pools and foundation. No pre-mixing or pre-wetting necessary.

Seal the floor and put down a thick layer of Ag Lime, and then shavings.
As it gets dirty, add more shavings​

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

THANK you for the link to the sealer! I am going to do that!