The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Hatty on May 16, 2011, 10:45:19 pm
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:goat: Well the new goat house is coming along great all the joists are in and the next step is the floor, what would be the best thing to treat it with? I don't want to use anything that will upset them or worse :goat:
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That's an interesting question... Any wood preservative or varnish you use you will run the risk of them nibbling at. Does it have to be a wooden floor?
Make sure there is no lead paint around- even on old buildings. I know someone who has just had to deal with Lead poisoning in their best male goat.... Not pleasant.
Beth
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Hi Beth
Yes unfortunately it does have to be wooden, I rent the land and can't erect any permanent structures, or lay any foundations,so it is a floating floor on 4in stock posts if I can resize the photos I'll post some on here.
Hatty
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Put down cow mats, there are some that can be cut to size, and you can wash them down on mucking out, but would probably have to be careful not to prick the muck fork prongs into it... Also act as insulator in the winter.
That's our plan for any goat house extension, we will get a standard wooden shed with wooden floors rather than go through all this palaver with concrete again. Then cow mats to keep floor in good condition.
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Thanks Anke
think thats a great idea :goat: :goat: will look round see what i can find
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I think the cow mats are a good idea, but what about the wetness seeping through the gaps between the cow mats? I suppose you make sure there are plenty of shavings to try and soak that up.
Let us know how it goes!
Beth
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In some areas, it is possible to get 2m wide conveyor belting... very heavy but then so are rubber mats !!!!
It is possible to seal the edges with heavy duty gaffer tape.
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I would probably creosote the floor first, and maybe put down a second layer of treated wood, then the mats on top. It should mean that the lifetime of the floor is greatly extended, and the beauty of wood is that you can replace rotten boards quite easily. You could also put a plastic sheet onto first floor, put second layer of boards down, treat with creosote or similar, then cowmatting. It would also provide great insulation in winter.
But milkers do pee an awful lot....
We had our chicken houses with a single treated floor just for coming up for five years now, (and the floor does get quite damp during the wetter months) and no sign of any rot as yet.
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Thanks Ladies for the advice, I've been at it all day again got the first 4 floor boards down have treated them both sides with ronseal.
The floor shouldn't get to damp as it's a floating floor
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Todays effort lol :goat: :love: :goat:
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I lay rubber matting down over concrete, I would guess it would also work over wood, as long as it is sealed & enough drainage points
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I have a friend who swears by Burgess marine wood sealant as it is environmentaly friendly. Ronseal contains very high levels of VOC's. But if you top it with rubber matting it shouldn't matter to the goats.
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Bit of an update on the floor