Barn cleaning is one of the most dreaded but also one of the most satisfying chores on a goat owner’s to-do list. However, with proper maintenance and a few cleaning tips, barn cleaning doesn’t have to be dreaded anymore!
Why Barn Cleaning?
Barn cleaning day: The three words that make most goat keepers want to pull the covers over their heads and sleep the day away. But if you want to raise a herd of healthy caprines, barn cleaning is an essential part of every goatkeeper’s lifestyle.
Maintaining a clean barn not only helps maintain low levels of dust to promote a healthy respiratory system, but it also helps to prevent diseases. Since keeping our herds healthy is at the top of every goat owner’s priority list, grab a broom and pitchfork and let’s start cleaning!
Water Buckets
You may not have considered keeping your goats’ water buckets clean as part of barn cleaning, but it is one of the most essential parts to raising healthy goats.
Water should be changed twice daily, and the bucket thoroughly rinsed out before refilling with fresh water. Change water first thing in the morning while feeding your herd, and then again during evening chores.
While it may sound extreme, washing your herd’s water buckets should be a part of your weekly barn cleaning routine. Scrub water buckets out with hot, sudsy water and a designated scrub brush or cloth to prevent bacteria and algae from building up. Washing buckets also helps reduce the chances of your herd contracting coccidiosis.
Do not use bleach to wash goat buckets, as it can leave a residue behind that can be harmful to your herd.
Feed Buckets
Like water buckets, cleaning the feed buckets should be a part of your weekly routine. Goat feed contains molasses and tends to make the feed buckets sticky.
Feed buckets should be scrubbed out with hot, sudsy water (never use bleach) once a week to prevent the spreading of disease, bacteria, and parasites. Washing the feed buckets shortly after morning feeding should allow enough time for them to air dry before they are needed again the next morning.
Want to kill more germs and bacteria? Sit buckets out in the sun to dry, as sunlight naturally kills harmful pathogens.
Mice, flies, and other bugs can be attracted to the sweetness of goat feed and also make goats sick. Cleaning feed buckets on your weekly will help keep goats healthy and unwanted pests under control.
Barn Cleaning: Don’t Forget To Clean Your Equipment
Equipment often gets overlooked when considering barn cleaning, but disinfecting your herd’s equipment can prevent the spread of diseases and parasites.
Wiping down hoof trimmers, shearing equipment, brushes, and other equipment after use helps to prevent parasites, disease, and infection from spreading from one herd member to another.
Pen Cleaning
Pen cleaning is the hardest and most time-consuming of the barn cleaning tasks, so many goat keepers prefer to put it off to once a year. However, from personal experience, it’s actually a lot easier and less of a chore to clean the pen more frequently.
Throw in the fact that cleaning more frequently decreases the chances of respiratory problems, coccidiosis, and external and internal parasites, and monthly pen cleaning is a win-win.
Clean your herd’s pen once a month, making sure to remove all soiled bedding, manure, and cobwebs from the pen. Sweep thoroughly with a broom. When using stall mats, be sure to remove the mats and clean underneath.
If possible, in the warmer months, pressure wash the floor of your goat barn to help keep your barn cleaner and wash away parasites.
While performing the monthly barn cleaning, be sure to wipe down hay mangers with a damp cloth to remove dirt and dust.
Cleaning Milk Equipment
If you raise dairy goats or are considering raising goats for milk, you probably already know that cleaning the milking equipment is part of the daily barn cleaning process.
After each milking, all dairy equipment must be rinsed in lukewarm (not hot) water. Scrub the equipment with a stiff wire brush using a solution of hot water, dish soap (use unscented dish soap to avoid giving your milk an odd flavor), and chlorine bleach.
Dairy equipment should be rinsed after scrubbing in clean water and then in dairy acid cleaner. Rinse in clean water for a final time.
Let the equipment drain before the next milking.
Barn Cleaning Tips
Looking for some helpful barn cleaning tips to make the job easier? These tips will help save you time while keeping your herd safe and healthy.
Using proper cleaning supplies will make barn cleaning a lot easier. Pen cleaning tools include a wheelbarrow to cart dirty bedding and manure to the compost pile, a pitchfork to remove soiled bedding, and a broom and dustpan to sweep away cobwebs, manure, and dirt.
If you don’t have a dustpan on hand, a feed or snow shovel makes a great replacement for sweeping manure and dirt into.
While doing your monthly barn cleaning, be sure to look around your pen to ensure there are no holes your goats can squeeze through or get their heads stuck in. Also, check for loose wires, nails, or other sharp objects a goat could get caught on. Remove or secure objects to keep your herd safe from injuries or ingesting harmful materials.
When washing feed and water buckets, use gentle, unscented, natural dish soap that is easy to rinse out and won’t leave your goat buckets smelling like cleaner.
Having a set day to clean your pen and wash buckets keeps you in the routine and your schedule running smoothly.
Consider spot cleaning every several days in frequented areas to make the monthly barn cleaning easier and less time-consuming.
Barn cleaning may not be a goat owner’s favorite job, but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Give these cleaning tips a try, and you will see for yourself how proper management and good nutrition will help your herd live longer, healthier lives.
This article about barn cleaning for goat owners was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
