Post by throwback on Oct 14, 2009 13:38:47 GMT -5
Jessika, I measured my cow stall that we never finished. (Good way to aggravate the resident carpenter around here - change your mind ;D) I just use the stalls now for storage, and the cow I have now does not need a stanchion. And here in the extreme West, a stanchion is just the head catch part, not the stall part, don't know if that is just a local thing or not. The complete stall measures 5' x 8' including the 2' for the manger area. 5' gives me enough room to milk with the cow, and make her mind. A full manger makes for a quiet cow. And there is 4' behind for the aisle. I have a Guernsey though, so your girls might be able to get by with a shorter stall, which would give you a wider aisle. 4' is probably the minimum for easy manuevering with a wheelbarrow, etc. The stalls are in the sheds with the mangers facing to the center of the barn, making for easy access for us to feed, and keeping them from the feed storage.
Our floors are packed clay, and the stalls have planks for floors which are elevated slightly at the front for good drainage. The planks are also placed lengthwise in the stall for easy cleaning. Without the raised stall floor it is hard to get the gutter effect.
This is a draft horse stall with solid walls, but shows the floor.
This shows the milking/tie stall that has morphed into a storage space, and for cows the solid wall isn't necessary.
The size was perfect. A different cow may require that we finally finish the stall(s) and install the stanchion(s).
I'll do a more in depth post on my blog about this - I need to get off the computer for now!!
Our floors are packed clay, and the stalls have planks for floors which are elevated slightly at the front for good drainage. The planks are also placed lengthwise in the stall for easy cleaning. Without the raised stall floor it is hard to get the gutter effect.
This is a draft horse stall with solid walls, but shows the floor.
This shows the milking/tie stall that has morphed into a storage space, and for cows the solid wall isn't necessary.
The size was perfect. A different cow may require that we finally finish the stall(s) and install the stanchion(s).
I'll do a more in depth post on my blog about this - I need to get off the computer for now!!