The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Buildings & planning => Topic started by: wayfarer on April 24, 2014, 04:51:35 pm
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We are building a structure that will combine a mower / trailer store (OH has lots of mowers!) a log store and an open fronted barn area for livestock - sheep, chickens etc. The mower store will have a sloping concrete floor but is this the best flooring surface for the barn area?
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Chickens like to have a dust bath so an area of dry earth should be included, but an all earth floor leaves them susceptible to foxes. If you choose the dirt floor it might be a good idea to dig in wire netting around the circumference about a foot down and a foot across to protect them from ingress by foxes and rats.
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id go for concrete as mud in winter is a nightmare. concrete can be cleaned well incase of pests/mites /infection.
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i agree with @shygirl and a concrete floor as it is easy to clean with broom, shovel, scraper, hose, pressure washer or whatever and you just chuck a whole load of straw down on it for animals and then chickens can have their dust bath in the straw and also food doesn't get trampled into earth and it is rat and fox proof
Cheers Ed
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Yep, I'd go for concrete on the basis that it's easy to clean. Our barn is currently 1/4 concrete, rest earth and the bit of the earth bit that sometimes has livestock on it is a b*gger to get bedding off.
I'm sure I was told once that if you are going to put livestock on, it has to be a certain kind of concrete that won't be affected by urine. But I might have dreamt it ::)
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Yep, I'd go for concrete on the basis that it's easy to clean. Our barn is currently 1/4 concrete, rest earth and the bit of the earth bit that sometimes has livestock on it is a b*gger to get bedding off.
I'm sure I was told once that if you are going to put livestock on, it has to be a certain kind of concrete that won't be affected by urine. But I might have dreamt it ::)
No, you didn't Rosemary ;D . Can't remember the technical stuff but it is a 'stronger' mix (whatever that means). I know we asked for that for our stables - don't know if we got it mind :roflanim: . Def. concrete if you can afford it.
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That sounds exactly the same as we are building.
Concrete is best and your local provider will tell you how much you need if you give them dimensions and they will also say which mix is best. It can also depend on what you are putting it on.
Put reinforcement in it - that's metal grid mesh - as it will provide the structural stability required for heavy machinery, diggers tractors etc.
Are you getting someone to do it for you or is it diy?
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The shed / barn is diy and OH has mixed the foundations by hand but he is getting premix concrete in for the main floor slab. After that it will be his summer project.
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Snap. Our slab is down, but OH getting help with the timber frame as he can't handle the trusses himself - my days of such things is over, I'm almost crippled with the amount of stone hauling I've done these past years. Good luck with it - don't forget to post pics when it's done :thumbsup: