New Calf shed

[Lc123]

After doing hutches for years and struggling with lack of space in transition pens thinking about building a new shed, using the old calf shed for calving cows.
currently having around 15 calves per month, keeping in hutches for around 6 weeks. Then they are moved into groups of 5 in large hutches for around 2 weeks before being moved into the calf shed and being weaned at 3months ish. They end up changing location four times until they are finally weaned. Was hoping to keep them in a hutch for 4 weeks then put them in groups of 5/6 and keep them in the new shed till about 5 months old.
Been looking at American style mono slope calf barns, have room for 2 facing each other,105ft long 20ft deep. Would like to see pictures of other peoples sheds/ layouts, how you are feeding the milk use individual buckets or troughs ? Would they do aswell in a shed as hutches..

 

[LouD]

I loathe hutches so do everything I can to get them out of them as fast as possible. They’re appallingly labour intensive and an absolute nuisance if a calf is sick or won’t come to feed. You’ve to climb into the pen and duck down to get into the hutch to haul the calf out. And then there’s the weather... Anyway, enough of my hatred for the hutches! When a calf is four weeks old or more, it’s well-enough established at feeding so is less likely to be bullied when feeding. I’ve never really liked putting the milk into troughs because a stronger one will push the others away as he tries to hoover up the last of the milk. I use milk bars, but not the ones with separate compartments because a fast drinker will push another calf away from its section, whereas with the other, they all finish at the same time, even if greedy ones gets more. Calves absolutely do as well in sheds in groups as they do in hutches. In fact, in the winter, calves can look pretty miserable in hutches. Build the shed, but build it bigger than you think you’ll need.

 

[Mixfarmer]

After doing hutches for years and struggling with lack of space in transition pens thinking about building a new shed, using the old calf shed for calving cows.
currently having around 15 calves per month, keeping in hutches for around 6 weeks. Then they are moved into groups of 5 in large hutches for around 2 weeks before being moved into the calf shed and being weaned at 3months ish. They end up changing location four times until they are finally weaned. Was hoping to keep them in a hutch for 4 weeks then put them in groups of 5/6 and keep them in the new shed till about 5 months old.
Been looking at American style mono slope calf barns, have room for 2 facing each other,105ft long 20ft deep. Would like to see pictures of other peoples sheds/ layouts, how you are feeding the milk use individual buckets or troughs ? Would they do aswell in a shed as hutches..

I’m looking for the same, more than fed up of wet weather and hutches, have you looking into the butilear or calf company houses?

 

[Lc123]

I’m looking for the same, more than fed up of wet weather and hutches, have you looking into the butilear or calf company houses?

Yes this is exactly what I’ve been looking at! Either build something similar or buy units from them. Was hoping to go and see a unit after the new year but with the current restrictions travel isn’t possible..

 

[LeonR]

At www.topcalf.com they offer calf hutches with roof. The separation walls of their hutches can be pulled out to create a group hutch and they are easy to move.

 

[Foregoneconclusion]

Igloo and veranda system. Holm and Laue. Efficient and easy. Changed to this system in last 12 months having had calves in a calf shed. Revolutionary step change.

 

[Whitewalker]

Igloo and veranda system. Holm and Laue. Efficient and easy. Changed to this system in last 12 months having had calves in a calf shed. Revolutionary step change.

Any closer pics of a unit ?