Converting a shed to a calf shed

morphy87

I have a section of a shed that I’m considering converting to a calf shed, it’s two spans long and 22ft wide, concrete floor and mass concrete walls with water and power in the shed. What’s the most Calfs I could get in this shed comfortably if penned out right? These would be Calfs that would be purchased

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058424817/converting-a-shed-to-a-calf-shed

Is it totally closed or open on one side ventilation and draughts will always be an issue with calves. After that a dry bed and plenty of straw

With the right set up you should be able to hit 50 no problem I would imagine but I have not done calves in years

weatherbyfoxer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058424817/converting-a-shed-to-a-calf-shed

What's the drainage like?..damp bedding is as bad as a draft

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123817190#Comment_123817190

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123817992#Comment_123817992

Totally closed in shed no draughts and the ventilation shouldn’t be an issue, used it years ago for a small number of Calfs and no problems health wise, just i want to properly kit it out now and im not sure what size pens that I would need for a group of 10, and try and fit the max around of Calfs in.

Concrete floors so no drainage and I’m not sure of the falls so drainage may be an issue but I clean them out weekly so the straw doesn’t get damp or heat

Back4more

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123818030#Comment_123818030

The smell comes stiffling if piss can not drain away ,a small door opening into a haggart/small field for young calves to roam out is ideal .In fact it now seems calves stay healthier the longer they are kept inside on hay after weaning .I would not be putting 50 in there anyway .

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123818107#Comment_123818107

I would only be buying 30 at max

Tibulus

22ft x 30ft = 660 ft sq = 61.31 m sq / 2.2 = 27 calfs

This assumes you dont take any space away for passages.

I converted a machinery shed for calfs last year, here is my experiecnce/lessons learned.

1. Is a your fall from the back to front? I had fall to the front, so feeder and trough at front. But left an existing drinker at the back. Need to move this drinker to the front for next year. Idea been that the back is dry straw and the front is the trafficed area. Might even put sleepers about a third of the way back to stop straw been dragged forward.
2. I put in some ventilation but not enough. Using the same calculation my shed is big enough for 44. Had 40 in it for 5 days. Had to move things around, lucky the weather was dry and was able to move 15 to the another shed and walk them back/forward to the feeder. Need to install more ventilation, old windows that I will remove and install yorkshire boarding, but only 5ft above ground to prevent draughts.
3. The door is to the front left. So had an issue where liquids flowed to the front right. Had to keep sweeping out and power hosing. Need to raise the floor in the front right so liquids flow out the door.
4. The door is wide enough for tractor to clean out shed with loader, only need to grape the final bits. Its a dream compared with the previous shed I used. Cleaned out the shed two saturdays in a row when we had that heat in April/May. Took an hour, kept the shed fresh.
5. I dont spare lighting, worth the money. Just keep it out of the way of the loader.
6. Had an area beside the calf feeder for a pallet of mean and milk replacer. All fenced off from the calfs.

When concisering ventilation,

• Need to have it above the height of the calfs
• Consider prevailing wind direction
• Plan any ventilation to have an entry and exit. Dont want ventilation from the prevailing wind direction then hit a wall on the opposite wall and create a draught for calfs
• Seen spoke bombs been used to test.

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123818149#Comment_123818149

Thanks for the input, for the ventilation could I rise some of the sheets on the roof?

I have no shortage of light, the doors is to the front and my penning area is to the right of the door.

I’m not certain what way the floor falls, ideally would you want it falling to the front where they drink?

Basically what I would like is to fit in 3 pens that could hold 10 in a pen with a passage way where I could roll down a bale of straw

Tibulus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123818717#Comment_123818717

I would not underestimate how much ventilation you need. I was very surprised how quickly the shed got stale when I had the 40 calfs in. Agri land and teagasc have videos on you tube about new sheds and ventilation.

The floor fall is what it is. Its about planning your shed around it so that the bedding is at the driest part. One of the old sheds I used had a fall to the centre, which was a real problem.

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123818861#Comment_123818861

How did you overcome this issue with the floor?