[Michaela Van Mecl]

I'm thinking of turning my one large pen into a dry lot. It's close... only a few spots of grass and nibblys, but I want to totally eliminate all of it to help with parasite loads when I'm not rotational grazing.

Send me your pics! What do you use for the ground? How often are you cleaning them? How did you get rid of the grass, did you just cover it with spent hay? What type of toys/platforms do you have for them?

 

[SalteyLove]

Whoops! Sorry your post got missed for so long. There was another recent conversation I'm going to try to find the link for! I think your goal is good. In my "sacrifice area"/"dry lot"/"run out" which is directly adjacent to the goat's barn and always open for them, I do get a few little patches of vegetation that still try to pop up. I have some toys & dog houses & solid pallets in the pen for them so I usually just mow it on the lowest setting then drag a toy on top of it. But I do sometimes grab a heavy piece of rubber-like tarp thing to smother it too.

 

[happybleats]

That is my dream..to rip out all grass and weeds from my goats area. Its too large..but thinking of at least doing area by area. The goats help by digging. I would live to bring in more sand. (We are sand here).

 

[toth boer goats]

I agree.

 

[MadHouse]

What did you end up using for the ground in your dry lot?

 

[Michaela Van Mecl]

What did you end up using for the ground in your dry lot?

I haven't done it yet, it's currently closed off.... I really need to get out there and work on it though. The spent hay didn't really do much, and in fact, helped incubate a bunch of burdock that is popping up all of a sudden. This weekend I think I may get out there and till it all by hand.

I found a place local that sells pine dust/shavings for $8/yard so I may go and get a bunch of that to spread over the top once it's all tilled.

 

[MadHouse]

I am thinking it’s best to have a ground cover that does not absorb moisture. I have fine gravel. I would have loved to get the crush’n run that @Goatwhisperer talked about, but it is not available here. Apparently it packs down almost like cement and you can sweep it and wash it.
I try to pick up as much poop as I can every day, but ... they poop a lot and I have other things to do too!
I have chickens in with the goats. They take the pellets apart from the does that get grain. While I don’t really like that because it makes the mess worse, my vet told me that the chickens help to dry the pellets out faster, and actually helping me in the fight against worms.

 

[Michaela Van Mecl]

I am thinking it's best to have a ground cover that does not absorb moisture. I have fine gravel. I would have loved to get the crush'n run that @Goatwhisperer talked about, but it is not available here. Apparently it packs down almost like cement and you can sweep it and wash it.
I try to pick up as much poop as I can every day, but ... they poop a lot and I have other things to do too!
I have chickens in with the goats. They take the pellets apart from the does that get grain. While I don't really like that because it makes the mess worse, my vet told me that the chickens help to dry the pellets out faster, and actually helping me in the fight against worms.

Good thought on the moisture thing. And that's interesting about the chickens, we have a ton that are always with the goats so that is good to know!

 

[MadHouse]

Our dry lot is still covered in snow, but withing the next month it will start melting and turning into muck. I am going to add a new layer to it, but haven't decided wether to get more fine gravel or sand.
The gravel packs down, but the stones are the same size as the goat pellets, so it was hard to clean.
What did you do with your dry lot, @Michaela Van Mecl ?

 

[Michaela Van Mecl]

Our dry lot is still covered in snow, but withing the next month it will start melting and turning into muck. I am going to add a new layer to it, but haven't decided wether to get more fine gravel or sand.
The gravel packs down, but the stones are the same size as the goat pellets, so it was hard to clean.
What did you do with your dry lot, @Michaela Van Mecl ?

I still have yet to make it! I'm slacking big time, but we've had nonstop snow on the ground so I haven't really had the need yet. It's on the to-do list for the spring.

 

[MadHouse]

I think I am going to try sand this time, hoping it is affordable. I can let you know how it works.

 

[Michaela Van Mecl]

I think I am going to try sand this time, hoping it is affordable. I can let you know how it works.

I would love that!!! I have sand in my chicken run and I really like it. I would imagine it would be nice in a dry lot... i would just need sooo much. And I need to kill all the grass/weeds :-/

 

[MadHouse]

Around here we have a road weight limit while the ground is soft. Heavy trucks can only come before or after the thaw. So I am planning now.