Having the right tool for the job makes any task less burdensome, and these essential barn tools can actually make the work more successful and enjoyable!
Over time, we have collected our most asked questions and answered them using our best barn tips, including barn designs, how to stock your barn for winter, utilizing the deep bedding method, and our barn management system.
We are often asked about barn tools. Because every homestead is different, certain specialized tools may be needed by some but never used by others. With this in mind, I have compiled essential barn tools that you’ll need when working with animals and in the barn.
This list doesn’t include every tool you will ever need, but these are the tools we couldn’t live without day to day.
What to Look for In a Quality Barn Tool
Just as we justify the cost of quality gardening tools, we value the importance of investing in quality barn tools. We are building a homestead to last for generations, so it makes sense to purchase tools that will last.
When building your tool collection, it can be challenging to afford brand-new tools. Resist the temptation to try to save a few bucks by shopping in big box stores. They rarely carry heirloom-worthy barn tools.
Homesteading Hack: One of our best tips for homesteading on a budget is to shop at antique stores, thrift stores, garage sales, and even auctions.
When selecting your tools, I recommend looking for wooden handles. I love the way they feel in my hand, and the wood helps to absorb some of the shock, making tasks more comfortable.
Also, take note of the handle’s length. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a tool as tall as you are. This will limit stooping while you work and has really saved my back over the years.
As a bonus, consider the importance of sourcing your new tools made in the USA. In today’s marketplace, this can be difficult to find, but when we come across USA manufacturing companies, we try to support them when we can.
My Top Picks for Essential Barn Tools
As mentioned before, this is not an all-inclusive list, but these are basic tools we use every day to accomplish our barn chores.
Rakes
There are several different types of rakes, but I find myself reaching for two in particular.
- Garden Rakes – Garden rakes come in handy for working with hard or thick materials. Choose a sturdy garden rake with a wide base and a long handle. A landscaping rake also works well. They provide an even wider base, so if you have a large area to cover, this option can make your task more efficient.
- Leaf Rakes – Leaf rakes work great for moving and spreading lighter-weight materials such as bedding. They come in a variety of styles and materials, and my favorite is the triangular-shaped metal head with a long wooden handle.
Pitch Forks
There are several fork tools, such as hay forks, manure forks, compost forks, and garden forks. The basic difference between each design is the number of tines and the width between the tines. You need to match the design feature with the material you are moving.
There isn’t one universal pitchfork that works best for all tasks, so I recommend first determining your needs and then purchasing an assortment of pitchforks that properly fit your tasks.
Shovels
Shovels also come in a variety of designs to fit specific needs. Using the right shovel for your task will make all the difference, so here are the main types of shovels I recommend.
- Round Nose Shovel – Round-nose shovels are great for scooping, digging, and moving a variety of materials.
- Smaller Spade Shovel – If you are working to break up compacted materials, I recommend using a smaller spade shovel. You will wear yourself out moving larger amounts with a standard round-nose shovel, and a smaller spade shovel will help you pace yourself.
- Flathead Shovel – Flathead shovels are not intended for digging but work great to efficiently scoop and move materials.
- Grain Shovel – Grain shovels aren’t just for grain! These lightweight shovels have large heads that can move a significant amount of material at a time. Using a grain shovel over a smaller flathead shovel, I can fill my wheelbarrow with shavings in a fraction of the time.
Wheelbarrows
Depending on the size of your homestead, you may want to invest in more than one wheelbarrow. Having one dedicated to the barn saves me a lot of time grabbing a wheelbarrow from the garden or other places on the homestead
When selecting a wheelbarrow for the barn, keep in mind that barn materials, such as manure and used bedding, are very heavy, so don’t skimp on purchasing a quality wheelbarrow.
I use a heavy-duty metal wheelbarrow suitable for carrying concrete and other construction materials, and it has served me well.
Quality plastic wheelbarrows and even dump trailer designs can also do the job. Just make sure you select a wheelbarrow that is sturdy and deep enough to hold a large amount of material at a time.
5 Gallon Buckets
5-gallon buckets are not only essential barn tools, but they also make our top homesteading essentials list because they have so many uses all over the homestead. In the barn, we use them to haul water or feed, ferment chicken feed, and even convert them into what we consider to be the best chicken waterers.
Metal Scoops
While plastic scoops are readily available wherever you look, I have found that they tend to break really easily. You will initially pay a little more for a metal scoop, but they will outlast the plastic ones, saving you money in the long run.
Storage Containers
Steel storage containers work great for keeping items dry and critters out. Depending on your scale, you may want to invest in 50-gallon food-grade steel barrels or smaller galvanized cans.
Regardless of the size, these storage containers come in handy for storing feed and mineral supplements for our livestock.
Keeping Barn Tools Organized
As a bonus tip, I highly recommend learning to properly care for your tools and developing a good organization system for your essential barn tools.
For years, our tools were stacked in the corner, falling over and often misplaced because we didn’t have a good storage and organization system. We have since fixed this problem with two key game-changers:
- Tool Racks – Metal tool racks are a must-have to keep your tools in good working order, organized, out of the way, and ready to use. We have installed these in our barn, down by the garden, and other key workstations on our homestead.
- Color Coding System – If your homestead has multiple workstations, you’ve probably struggled with having the right tools in the right place at the right time. In addition to installing tool racks, we have developed a color-coding system by roughly sanding the handle of the tool and painting it with a designated color for each workstation. If you don’t have wooden handles, you can use color-coded tape. It will eventually fall off, so just keep more on hand to replace it.
I hope this answers some of your questions about quality barn tools and which tools we find non-negotiable. More than anything, we find having a tool organization system the most important in maintaining order and always having the right tool available when you need it.
