Good floor for barn

[Susan n' Emily in TN]

Hello, it has been forever since I have been in these parts! I had sheep years ago, but had to give them up because I was having a bad reaction to the lanolin. Back then there were several that suggested I look into fiber goats, but I was so broken hearted, I couldn't even listen to them!

Then I found out about Nigora goats! In less that a year I have, 8 goats: 4 wethers, a doe and her twin does and next month I will be adding a buckling for genetic diversity. (Nigora goats, give me a very fine undercoat of fiber, also known as cashgora.)

My question is about the barn floor. It is currently dirt, and while that is okay, I was wondering if maybe I would do better to put a load of "crusher run" really fine gravel that packs down, on top of the dirt to make it easier to sweep up the berries?

What other kinds of flooring might be advisable?
(It is good to be back, even in lurking mode, the email prompt I received reminded me about these boards.)

[Clovers_Clan]

Crush n run would be great for drainage. I would add a good layer of sand on top to make it easier to rake/scoop poop. Not to mention, more comfortable for critters to lay down.

[kasilofhome]

I have sand and love it in the winter I lay in a deal layer of wood pellets. Urine fluffy it up and frozen goat pellets are not rolling frozen marbles.. and it is easy to shovel and bag when it gets deep.... great compost.

[Susan n' Emily in TN]

Cloversclan and kasilofhome, thanks so much for your input, I hadn't thought of using sand! Wood pellets, would that be the same thing you would use in the wood pellet stoves?

Keep the ideas coming!

[GREEN_ALIEN]

Sand, sand and only sand. It packs well enough, supports equipment and is easy to clean.

Ted

[marusempai]

I like my dirt floor in my barn. I add a layer of straw and the goats add any hay that does not meet their strict quality requirements, so they have a thick plush bed on top. I clean it out completely twice a year - early spring and late summer - and spot clean if they manage to make a soggy spot, which is rare. Works for me at least.

[Susan n' Emily in TN]

I have been mulling it over, and I wonder if the sand would be damaging to the fleeces that these Nigora goats grow. Does anybody have any input on that? I may bounce over to the fiber forum and ask there as well.

[Clovers_Clan]

I'm not familiar with fiber goats but I do have wool sheep. Dirt and VM are damaging to fleece because you can't brush it out without damaging loch structure. I don't know what happens with sand. It could probably dull clippers/shears but I don't think enough of it would accumulate to cause damage. You can always bed fresh straw on top of the sand.