Anyone use paper as bedding? Especially "home made"?

[Gingernags]

I have the orange one on rubber mats and shavings ATM. She's not allowed on straw, allergy related - and I was wondering about paper?

The main reason I like shavings is I don't pong as much of horse as you do mucking out straw - what is paper like?

Also is is as absorbent or less or more?
How much do you use compared to shavings?
Can you shred any paper or are certain types better/worse than others?

Bought a cross cut shredder for work, makes shreds about 1/2cm x 5cms so is that decent?

Would appreciate some opinions of those using it or have tried it. Ta.

 

[RachelB]

I've never found that paper smells, only the mats we have underneath!
I haven't used anything else so I don't know how it compares, but generally our yard uses between one bale (straw bale sized) a fortnight and one bale every other day (for my horse who wees a LOT). It took me three (ish) bales to start the bed, but it isn't that big or deep or I'd be forever taking it all out when Maiden wees everwhere!
My Mum shreds a bit for me too, using a basic thin cut shredder. It isn't as nice as the yard-bought stuff, not as absorbent, but every little helps and all that! The yard stuff is quite thick, about 10 newspaper pages thick, in about 2" shreds. We also have single-page thick-cut stuff which is more absorbent and looks fluffier.
Your shredder sounds fine, especially if it will do multiple pages. But don't think you can shred enough to keep you going! Find a company who can get you some paper, and supplement it with what you can shred yourself.

 

[Prudence]

I used to work with someone who shredded thier own and they found that newspaper & brown envelopes were far more absorbant than old letters!

 

[Madam_max]

I love having my mare on paper and she is really dirty. If I had a choice she would def still be on it. You don't have to be a fussy as you do with shavings, as the tiny bits don't notice. Really absorbent too!!

 

[Pasha]

Hmmm I found that we got in a huge mess with paper... it also left print all over her (but we were using the shop brought bales and this was about 15yrs ago)! I have just started using Bedmax (huge woodchips) after finding mice were camping out in the straw and love it!

 

[Gingernags]

well its work sourced see, so all envelopes go in it, junk mail, unwanted magazines, the boss' rough lists and notes (lots of them!!!) and I'll be nicking the daily paper off my mum.

I'm thinking maybe it will mix with shavings as a top up but not tried it yet!

 

[so03]

I used to shred my own paper and as suggested you spend a lot of time shredding.

I liked the paper bedding, but you may find with that size shred it'll blow all over the yard. Also I couldn't muck out with a fork, had to muck out with rubber gloves as the clean paper stuck to the dirty stuff.

Very obsorbent and obviously cheap. I knew a paper deliver driver who always had loads of papers left over from his rounds to the shops. I used to pick them up every couple of months. Would keep me going.

If you are using work related shredding, make sure there are not any staples/ paperclips etc in there. Also the normal paper was quite rough and not as absorbent as newspaper.

 

[miss_bird]

I have had one of my horse on home shredded paper for years, it is great i get all my newspapers free from a local newsagent as it saves them disposing of it so will be happy to get rid of it. I use a decent office shredder and it is very absorbent and does not smell. You wil find newspapers are actually very soft compared to office waste paper

 

[Maislow]

I have mats & paper & I use only a small bit of paper. I use bought bales mixed with stuff fom my hubbys office & its great. Smells a bit more than shavings but its cheaper & less dusty

 

[Alex_kate]

we all use paper at our yard, i love it. i use about a bag every 2 days and joey is dirty (using more atm as he is on box rest!)
i dont think it smells at all and is very absorbant. thought about buying a shredder but i think it would take ALOT of time.

 

[WishfulThinker]

When I worked at a local stud we used paper and cardboard. The cardboard was best as you could literally just slice it off the floor in the morning!! But it did mean replacing the WHOLE bed each day.

 

[Laafet]

We used it at Cumani's and it did not smell at all and was v. easy to muck out - they were also on matts. Same as at the vets too so can't be that bad. Guess its personal preference and tradition to have straw or shavings.

 

[dieseldog]

Used to use paper as I got it free from work, it mixes in well with shavings if your supply runs low. Don't work in the same office anymore so back on straw

 

[Faithkat]

I have shredded paper from work - it shreds really finely - we get loads as a huge amount of our stuff is classified!! I also collect all my mail envelopes and junk mail and take it to work to shred. Free bedding!!! I find it goes into a fairly solid mass when it gets wet and is really easy to muck out.

 

[vicijp]

I recently changed onto paper, the stuff I get is very finely shredded and can be mucked out easily with a shavings fork. I find I take out less on paper, I have always found it best to add new every other day at least.
The bags I get are about the same size as a bale of shavings, obviously not as tightly packed, and cost £1.20 a bag. I generally use about 4 a week.
Having worked in yards where they use shreds as you are suggesting, I would never consider it. It is like mucking out setting concrete and they blow absolutely everywhere.