Anyone got opinions on recycled cardboard bedding?

wizzybit

wizzybit

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Woodshavings are so expensive, straw takes too long to rot down and I've got 4 horses to stable next winter.
I tried the wood pellets for one winter, but still used quite a lot although the muck heap was a lot smaller than with straw.
I like using straw, the horses like munching on it through the night and they keep nice and clean on it. My husband doesn't like the size of the muckheap!!

Has anyone used the recycled cardboard bedding and what did you think of it?
 
Much better for the respiratory system than any of the other beddings youve mentioned. Ive used it and the only disadvantage i found was that it wasnt as absorbant as paper, so i now use paper. Although paper is messier outside because it blows about, and cardboard doesnt!
 
Ummm Interesting is possibly a word I'd use. LOL. I recently used it at another yard I visited. They mixed it with shavings. I was dubious but it seemed to work. My mucky monster was not too bad on it TBH The wet didn't seem to spread. Kinda clump together. Forget having a "pristine" looking bed as you cant necessarily seperate the hay so easily if they decide to walk it through.

I started off with a bed that didn't appear too big by my monsters standards. But it lasted all week really well and there was bedding left at the end of the week.

The cardboard they were using was in little squares, if that makes any difference. :)
 
I've used it and the best thing about it is the wee sticks it all together so easy to get the dirty out and the poo sits on top. It may not look as nice as a shavings bed but then you can see the poo as easily so when it is a little dirty to a passing glancer it looks clean ;) Oh and it is so easy to do straight square banks with cardboard :)

I now use paper. It is warmer and comfier for the horses and also much more absorbant. And also hella pretty! One day we had a pink bed! The best thing about the paper is I have a deal with the local hospital to take away their confidential shredding so I get it for free! I have a 12x18 stable with two 14h2s in and go through about 2 bags a day of the long shred or 1 bag a day of the short shred (packs in the bags better).
 
I love them! Just had my first winter on shredbed having previously used straw-flax and wood pellets.

I am a wood pellet convert but they are too dusty for my ROA horse.

Shredbed is cut in strips rather than cubes which I have heard from others is better, but I bought this amazing pooper scooper when I got my bedding and I would have to say that I can imagine it would be really difficult to muck out without the scooper. I cant remember what the scooper is called but its bigger than the usual ones and the scoop is a small rake which is excellent for 'flicking' the poop so you get all the tiny bits.

The wee collects together and its not smelly; the only disadvantage is that its quite heavy to move about.

Anyway; my muck heap is tiny and is now in great form for garden fertilising!
 
I started to use Shreddy Bed for my horse with a dust allergy, it's much cheaper than shavings and rots much faster too. Muck heap is smaller and has saved me a lot of money over the winter for two horses.
 
I used it the past, the torn strips sorts. Loved it, best stuff ever, but the place I got it from then got a new machine that cuts it into little squares, and I didn't like it at all, so back to straw.
 
I used cardboard and HATED it. Although cheap, I found it very hard to muck out. There was so much in the stable and I wanted rid of it ASAP but it seemed to take forever to go.
 
This is totally a personal viewpoint with no reference to suitability of/requirements for these types of beds - I've never used paper or cardboard, I've been lucky enough not to have any allergy-prone animals so never had any need to have anything other than straw. However I've seen beds made from both paper and cardboard and they just look bloomin awful, I'm glad I don't need to use the stuff! Oh how I love my straw beds, when I've added lots of fresh straw they just look so inviting and comfortable I could sleep in them myself quite happily!!!
 
I use ecobed, which is new shredded cardboard.

I find it just the same as shavings to use, apart from being heavier.

Obviously, its ideal if you have a horse with respiratory issues or you are keen to prevent such health issues in the future.
 
I used cardboard squares on rubber matting. Brilliant, didn't need much of it just the minimum to go over the matting and only took a few mins to muck out (and I'm really fussy), though it does depend if you're obsessed with the look of the bed if you'll like it or not. I also tried paper (hated it) and shavings (not as absorbent) and straw (takes me too long and does my back in).
 
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