Scat scooper

For those of us that live in fairly dry climates that can use a goat scat scooper, let me fill you in on the scoop.  First of all, the word "scat" means feces. Some people use the word "poo," but that brings to mind Winnie the Pooh and why place him in such a low state.  Some also use the word "poop," however, when I was younger, "poop" referred to flatulence and not feces.  (this is similar to the current vernacular of the word "thong" which is now the name for woman's underwear that are a narrow cover as thin as a pipe cleaner.  But, in my youth, it referred to the current flip-flop.)

It is important to keep the ground underneath your goat's feet similar to how it would be if they were out roaming and foraging before domestication.  Sometimes that was soft sand, sometimes it was hardened clay or soil, sometimes it was rocks, etc.  But, it was never just rock only, so you cannot have a very hard surface because, overtime, this is not good for a goat's joints.   I have seen many people clean the goat's enclosure. They often pick up the scat but also all of the top soil and throw it all away. What is left is a hard surface.  After other people had cleaned my goat's enclosure, I often had to refill it with top sand to protect their joints.

In the past, I saw a scat scooper at a petting zoo and built one similar in concept.  If the scat scooper has a screen at the bottom, then you can shake the good sand or dry soil out of the scooper and return this important soft earth back to the enclosure.   The one that I made myself is extremely makeshift. It is also a bit flimsy so I was the only one that could use it because I knew one rough tug and it could have come apart.  But, for me, voila, it did the trick; no more sand/dry soil in the wheel barrel.

I knew I needed a newer model so that I was not the only one who could clean the goats' enclosure effectively.  I had a new, improved model made, but those of you who are savvy with tools could do this yourself.

The flimsy one I made by myself consists of a small plastic trash can, a screen used for an air con filter, a toilet plunger, duct tape, double sided tape, and crossed fingers that is comes out alright.  In the photo, it has some bolts because I had a handy man retrofit it.  But, my makeshift scat scooper held up just fine as long as it wasn't left in the rain or around people who are rough at the edges - or left for the goats to chew on the duct tape - another problem if you allow another to use your makeshift scooper.  Don't assume that others know goat behavior!!!!

The newer model consists of a scooper that comes with a broom bought from a construction supply house.  That is a necessary part: a broom to sweep up the scat.  We cut the thicker plastic bottom out of it and replaced that with heavy duty screen.  It is important that the screen you buy is the right size. You don't want it like a window screen because that will not allow you to sift out the soil or sand.  If the screen is too large, the small pieces of goat scat will just fall through the holes.  Think raisinettes, you want to keep those and shake out the finer sand/soil.  I simply shake the scooper often enough which shakes the sand/soil through the screen located at the bottom.  I then dump the "raisinettes" into a wheel barrel often so that the scooper doesn't get weighted down.  If you shake and dump often, it will make sure that sand/soil has plenty of contact with the screen to fall through the holes and get added back to the ground of the enclosure.  This may sound elementary and obvious to you, but I have seen many people try to clean my goats' enclosure and fail miserably, ending up with a very heavy wheel barrel full of sand/soil and a hard surface left for the goats.  Since my way ensures that you end up with goat scat in a wheel barrel and just a small bit of hay, you are now able to use this clean, non-scented, wonderful scat for your organic garden.   A word to the wise:  always notice the consistency of your goat's scat.  It should not be clumpy, but a loose stream of raisinettes.  If you notice clumps of "raisinettes" stuck together, keep noticing.  Sometimes this just happens from time to time, but if it is often enough, consult a vet.  Also, notice their urine; make sure they "pee" (now that is a word that, thankfully, has not changed over many years) without any pain.  If they are in pain when they pee and are looking at their bladder and moaning, you might just be giving your wether
alfalfa or alfalfa pellets or grain, or he may be stealing it from your horses if you have any of those.  

Here are the photos of the old model and the newer model.  If you want to purchase the new model through me, send me an email through my website www.EmpireOfTheSunspirit.com  

New model

old scooper above