Helpful barn tips....what are yours?

[KimM]

I have a large aquarium fish net to clean debri out of the water tank and buckets between scrubbings. I also use a kid's butterfly net for smaller particles as the mesh is much finer. (Dollar Store)
If I don't have a sponge, brush or rag handy but need to scrub out a water bucket or tub, I use some wadded up hay, grass or leaves in the fall. Works great!
In winter if you don't have heated buckets or a tank heater, use a cat litter scoop for dipping out broken up ice. (Ok, let's not talk about winter until necessary!)

[cowgirlracer]

My bardyard tip is that I use shredded paper for bedding in my chicken house. I shred all my bills (after paying them), all junk mail, and anything that has any information on it like account & ss #'s. Also many businesses will give you their shredded paper just for the asking. It is highly absorbant, and the price it right. I don't have a garden, but a friend of mine uses the chicken manure & shredded paper in her compost pile and then in her garden. And loves it. I also use it when I have to bring a new baby kid home for some TLC. Love it.

Anne
CGR

[cmharris6002]

I have a dirt floor in my barn. Finding good bedding for the warmer months has been a pain. Hay works well in the winter but in the summer hay and shavings retain too much moisture. Plain dirt makes my goats too... dirty. I just started using wood pellets, the same ones I use for the rabbits' litter box. They are so GREAT. One bag of pellets costs the same as one bag of shavings or one bale of hay but stays clean and dry and lasts much longer.

When you first put the stuff out it looks like pellets but as it gets damp with goat pee you rake it around and it starts to become saw dust. I am so happy with my nice smelling clean dry barn floor!

[christij]

Where can you purchase wood pellets? Is there a brand you would recommend or do you just buy pellets for rabbits? I am fixing to buy bedding for my first two goats and hadn't thought about the summer/moisture issue...

[cmharris6002]

The brand I am using is 'Woody Pet'. I buy it at the feed store.

[Terry W]

I saw a similar wood pellet product for horses at the local TSC- I wonder if the price might not be a bit better?

Also, I found the ground corn cob bedding that I bought for my rabbits to be wonderful, as well. The fluids run through it, so the top remains dry-- but when it hits the impermeable surface underneath, the bedding soaks up the urine, spilled water, etc.. I just then turn it over into my garden area. the soil now retains moisture very well, (without being soggy) and the earthworms are loving it! The sprouts from the wasted feeds are growing like "weeds" and are easily pulled to turn back into the beds.