Any experience of bed down products?

[ponios]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience of bed down?

I have two horses deep littered on large flake shavings which works well but our big lad, while very clean is super wet- he is 18hh+ and drinks alot! I have tried to deep litter with him with large flake shavings and I just cant seem to manage it so at the moment he is fully mucked out.

I would rather avoid pellet beds that need watering as I am usually tight on time on the mornings when I muck out, so I was looking at the Excel/plus and Rapasorb range.

I have managed to get away so far with deep littering the other two all winter and then emptying the stable of the wet base once they are turned out for the summer. I was surprised it worked as I thought I would need to clear out at the weekend (when I have more time) but for last 2 winters it has worked well. I do tend to add a bale of shavings a week and will 'skim of any wet that has made it to the top. We have limited space so in addition to the time saving it has also been good to keep our muck heap down. The boxes have stayed fresh and not been smelly at all

 

[EllenJay]

With my very wet boy, I used to use megasorb where he weed, and easybed on top. Worked really well. Used to semi-deep litter, took out the wet at weekends, but the top was always dry

 

[poiuytrewq]

I used bad down for a while. It was the straw shavings mix one. Nice, easy to muck out but I disliked the smell, I was the only one saying that! Everyone else loved it, made me feel a bit sick! I’d use a non smelly one though

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

With my very wet boy, I used to use megasorb where he weed, and easybed on top. Worked really well. Used to semi-deep litter, took out the wet at weekends, but the top was always dry

I used to use a Magazorb base with shavings on top for my very wet mare.

 

[Equi]

I stick the pellets down and then a bag or 5 of halmac over the top and let him do the watering for me. It makes the bed really fluffy for a while but when it beds in its wonderful and easy to muck out.

 

[Scarlett]

I've used chopped rape straw, same as Rapasorb, on a very wet horse for two winters now and it's a revelation! Deep littered really well, saved me time and money over my previous wood pellet and shavings routines.

Will be doing it again this winter.... In fact I'm off to go buy some today to start to stock up!