The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Festus on November 23, 2020, 06:29:47 pm

Title: Deep littering
Post by: Festus on November 23, 2020, 06:29:47 pm
Hi.  I deep litter my horses in the winter on hemp shavings and it works very successfully.  I just wondered if anyone deep litters their goats and, if so, what they use.
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: landroverroy on November 23, 2020, 07:21:43 pm
I deep litter my sheep amd cattle on straw.
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: Backinwellies on November 23, 2020, 07:36:48 pm
straw
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: Anke on November 23, 2020, 09:26:23 pm
Initial layer of straw, the goats then continue to build the bedding up by wasting their hay...
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: Lesley Silvester on November 24, 2020, 12:25:47 am
I agree with Anke, although sometimes I added a bit of straw.
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: harmony on November 24, 2020, 10:55:16 am
Personally I find anything deep littered where hay mixed in is the hardest bed to remove unless you have mechanical means.
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: Anke on November 24, 2020, 01:50:30 pm
Personally I find anything deep littered where hay mixed in is the hardest bed to remove unless you have mechanical means.


Saves the gym membership...
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: Festus on November 24, 2020, 06:03:54 pm
Thanks all.  Straw it is.
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: macgro7 on November 24, 2020, 08:08:02 pm
Personally I find anything deep littered where hay mixed in is the hardest bed to remove unless you have mechanical means.


Saves the gym membership...
That was my thought when i emptied the goats shed this Sunday. It was mostly spilled hay. Nowni put fresh straw and they are wasting some hay as usual so it build up again. I might put some more straw later
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: steve_pr on November 27, 2020, 12:26:39 am
We start out with straw, which the goats then proceed to eat with great relish, then pull the hay we provide as food out of the feeders and spread it all over the floor!  So you end up with a mixture whatever you do.  Given the price of straw this season (outrageous over here in West Wales) using hay makes more sense actually!!!


Whatever you use, it is damn hard work digging it out in a couple of months time!!!
Title: Re: Deep littering
Post by: macgro7 on November 27, 2020, 05:34:57 pm
Given the price of straw this season (outrageous over here in West Wales) using hay makes more sense actually!!!
Wow! How much does it cost then?
I still paid £2 a small square baler for straw and £4.50 for hay (it used to be £4)