This is so exciting to see!

I am sure all cows would appreciate mats, but southern cows spend much less time in their stalls than northern cows. Abraded hocks are surely a rarity around here.

But it may be worth it to go ahead and start out with a pair. It will help you too when you go out to milk in the winter, do you have winter????? Dave?????
I'd rather be safe then sorry with the cows...

We already have the mats, although porkpal is right- the cows are really only in the barn when they are milked, or the occasional wandering in when it suits them. We found them on sale over a year ago, and picked 2 of them up.

Yes, we do have winter- the new banner is our well house either last year, or the year before (I forget). Jan and Feb it will be below freezing over half the time, with some warm fronts here and there to keep us sane. Last year we had over 2 weeks of temps in the teens, but that's pretty rare. I know, nothing like what ya'll get, but it's cold enough for us!

Also, we had the concrete scored on the animal stalls and the middle alley to prevent any hooves from slipping. Don't want any cows looking like Bambi on that ice pond!

That is definitely not something you want, speaking from experience. A 'split' cow is one that isn't going to be around much longer. We have a diamond pattern in our barn floor, harder to keep clean, but easier to walk on.

Looking good Wish I had a barn for the DOGS when they drive us nuts.

How exciting. I can hardly wait to see it completed. And everything seems so well thought out, with the kitchen facilities and all under one roof.

Congratulations Dave and Trish, it looks great, have fun and don't work too hard

I would like to have designed my barn, but it came with the farm. It is stoutly built, ugly and not as well ventilated as I want, but it has survived a couple of hurricanes and will doubtless outlast me!

Today was a big day and the loft floor is up and finished.



It's amazing how fast work goes when you hire 4 men to work together to get this done.

The view under the barn:


The floor joists are 2x10s attached to 2x12s that are hung with bolts to the posts. Under those 2x12s we have 2x6 board running down to the concrete and bolted to the posts. This makes a strong floor that I can be confident in.



Tomorrow we start working on the rafters.

Looking really great!

In the first picture, what is the stand of trees to the right in the far back?
Several of the same kind, but I can't tell what kind. Maybe oak?

Looks fantastic!
The only barn raising I have seen was in a movie and it was done by the Amish.
So this is very interesting, Dave!

Sharon said:In the first picture, what is the stand of trees to the right in the far back?
Several of the same kind, but I can't tell what kind. Maybe oak?

Those are White Oaks and they are some of my favorite trees on the property. I'm thrilled that the barn is being built near them. We named those trees the Three Sisters.

Hard to believe that's one day's work! At least one day to talk about it here, another to decide who's in charge, and on and on. Looks great!

I love those trees, too. Great name for them.

Way to go, Dave!!!!!!!

Won't be long before it will have a roof.

I really like your technique for supporting the 2x12s. I think I'll steal it when I rebuild the shed next to our barn - on a smaller scale.

Are you going to paint or stain the floors to keep them in good shape? Maybe Thompson's water seal them???