[mojocafa]

After much discussion with local planning officer, I am getting to put a field shelter on land for goats. It will be on skids but have no floor. I am not allowed to put down concrete base or slabs as a base. So it will  be sited on grass which won't be the warmest in the winter. Any suggestions as to what temporary flooring could be used?

I did think of pallets with rubber mats on top???

Or even just raised areas?

Don't want it to be too complicated for when it comes to cleaning it out

[DavidandCollette]

How about paving slabs covered with straw

[mojocafa]

That's what I suggested to planner but no slabs!

[Slimjim]

If it's on skids, do you intend to move it around? If so the need for a permanent floor is confusing.
I know nothing about the needs of goats, but I built a 5m square roofed shelter for my sheep on grass. Covered the floor with straw, and very quickly the earth was trampled down and the grass disappeared. What is there now is a hard packed, dry smooth floor that can be cleaned out and disinfected with lime very easily.

[devonlady]

Platforms of solid pallets will keep them off the ground and out of draughts and be easy to move?

[kelly58]

Agree with Devonlady, we put pallets in our field shelter and cover with last years hay 

[mojocafa]

Cheers folks, next question...


.... Anyone got solid pallets?

[cloddopper]

After much discussion with local planning officer, I am getting to put a field shelter on land for goats. It will be on skids but have no floor. I am not allowed to put down concrete base or slabs as a base. So it will  be sited on grass which won't be the warmest in the winter. Any suggestions as to what temporary flooring could be used?

I did think of pallets with rubber mats on top???

Or even just raised areas?

 Why not just put in a deep bed of straw  , add to it every week and when it's trampled /bedded down to 2 feet thick ............
 
Clear the doorway path so you can slide it without damaging the doorway by piling up the straw on to the main middle part of the  bedding &  pull the sledge back about six feet more than the shelter is long . Perhaps even going to purchase a cheapish Tirfor type hand puller or a decent set of 1,000 kg yachting compound pulley's & rope to do the job if moving machinery is not easily available .

 At least you will have a decent supply of neatly piled manure to compost and use in your veg beds at the end of the day & the goats will love to play " King of the Castle " on it 

[Rupert the bear]

Agree with Devonlady, we put pallets in our field shelter and cover with last years hay 

I would be wary of using hay as bedding due to the possibility of fungal spores

[mart6]

I use rubber horse mats in my field shelters

[kelly58]

Not had any 'issues' with using the hay, been healthy enough these last 14 yrs 

[mojocafa]

I have my shelter and I love it, hopefully so do goats, will post photo over the werkend

[DavidandCollette]

I wouldn't use pallets they make a great rat run