Bedding options for a cosy bed?

Traks

Traks

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Hi all,

What are people using for a cosy bed now? We are moving and have the choice of whatever we want…I don’t want straw as it’s a pain to get and store more importantly for us so needs to be something wrapped.

We’ve done straw pellets which are amazing for mucking out and cost but I wasn’t so keen on the flatness of the bed and small banks…I am still open to it though! We used some cheap stuff at the old yard but am looking at Cordorde pellets as they are actually local to us and easy to get hold of.

Mare seems to love Bedmax shavings, very fluffy and cosy but I’ve noticed the urine does leak through the front easily and not the easiest to muck out.

Aubioise is lovely but very costly, it’s not a definite no but would need to be persuaded!

Regular shavings an option but costly!

Thanks!
 
I've used Rapasorb for the last couple of winters - the bales are the same size as other makes of chopped straw but really tightly packed in, so there's actually a lot more bedding per bale when you open it. I ordered a pallet load which came to £420 including delivery.

I know it's supposed to be used on a semi-deep litter basis but I tend to muck out every day, as I hate the weekly strip-out of the stables otherwise. I had two horses on it last winter and still didn't use an entire pallet load between them and one of them is fairly wet and messy.
 
meleeka said:
You either love Bedmax or hate it IME. I hate it! I don't find it remotely absorbent and it's not easy to muck out. I am a fan of Aubiose. It might seem expensive, but you don't use as much as it's so absorbant.
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I know, its not very absorbent! I found its better to not disturb the bed too much as it sort of compacts down over time, just take out the wet etc but I know what you mean.

I wonder if a different type of shavings fork would help with the poo picking>?
 
SlinkyMinxy said:
I've used Rapasorb for the last couple of winters - the bales are the same size as other makes of chopped straw but really tightly packed in, so there's actually a lot more bedding per bale when you open it. I ordered a pallet load which came to £420 including delivery.

I know it's supposed to be used on a semi-deep litter basis but I tend to muck out every day, as I hate the weekly strip-out of the stables otherwise. I had two horses on it last winter and still didn't use an entire pallet load between them and one of them is fairly wet and messy.
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Thanks this looks nice as does the Excel bedding they do...I'd have to get a pallet though as nowhere near me stocks it!
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Has anyone used Unibed or Unibed Miscanthus?
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I have used the Unibed chopped rape straw for a few years as it is the cheapest I could find. I find it very absorbant and it doesn't move about too much and it much lighter to dig out than pellets. Once the bed was down I skipped out during the week and dug the wet patch out every 10 days of so and put a fresh bag in.

I slightly prefer the Sundown chopped rape straw but it is more expensive. It has a slightly nicer smell and is a little lighter in colour.
 
eggs said:
I have used the Unibed chopped rape straw for a few years as it is the cheapest I could find. I find it very absorbant and it doesn't move about too much and it much lighter to dig out than pellets. Once the bed was down I skipped out during the week and dug the wet patch out every 10 days of so and put a fresh bag in.

I slightly prefer the Sundown chopped rape straw but it is more expensive. It has a slightly nicer smell and is a little lighter in colour.
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Oh that sounds very good, again nowhere stocks it so will need a pallet! Its quite reasonably priced too.
 
Thanks for the suggestions I’ve ordered a couple of trial bags of the Bed Down Excel (mix of shavings and straw) as the pallets are out of stock, we are moving at the weekend/next week so will have to make up a bed of something in the sort term, possibly Burly Bed or bedmax the feed shop has that in stock.
 
Yes to Unibed. I was trying to think of the name. I used it last year lookig for a slightly cheaper option to Shavings for a horse with an allergy. As above I cant use Equinola but was absolutely fine with Uni bed- I used the rapestraw one. I liked it a lot.
 
Aubiose is a bit more expensive to set up the bed, but to my mind that's cancelled out by the little you need to add and the clean, quick to muck out bed you get. My oldie loves lying down flat out on it
 
rextherobber said:
Aubiose is a bit more expensive to set up the bed, but to my mind that's cancelled out by the little you need to add and the clean, quick to muck out bed you get. My oldie loves lying down flat out on it
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I do like it but nowhere stocks it locally! I guess no demand for it…
 
I use Aubiose,although it's expensive it's economical as it's so absorbent & makes a nice stable bed so you waste very little. The bed is mainly Auboise but I use a Nedzbedz about every 3rd week to just fluff it up a bit.
 
I’m trying a new shaving at the moment it’s called Wood and Slumber. They are about £10 per bale but they are big 20kg bales and two bales have made a great bed! Very cosy! I’ve been told they have 700,000 bales too so they aren’t going to run out any time soon 😉
 
I have a straw pellet base, and unibed chopped rape straw, or their chopped lavender wheat straw, on top.
Used to have the equinola chopped rape straw but the unibed is better on price - comparable quality.

Unibed also have a miscanthus - not tried it yet.

Mine usually has a flat out sleep on it every night.
 
Bobthecob15 said:
I do like it but nowhere stocks it locally! I guess no demand for it…
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Thats very odd/ unusual, that no where stocks it! I used to use a cheaper miscanthus bedding ( Easypack) but it randomly started making me cough, never mind the horses. Aubiose is consistent quality. If you can store it, you can order palletloads , I believe
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Hi all,

What are people using for a cosy bed now? We are moving and have the choice of whatever we want…I don’t want straw as it’s a pain to get and store more importantly for us so needs to be something wrapped.

We’ve done straw pellets which are amazing for mucking out and cost but I wasn’t so keen on the flatness of the bed and small banks…I am still open to it though! We used some cheap stuff at the old yard but am looking at Cordorde pellets as they are actually local to us and easy to get hold of.

Mare seems to love Bedmax shavings, very fluffy and cosy but I’ve noticed the urine does leak through the front easily and not the easiest to muck out.

Aubioise is lovely but very costly, it’s not a definite no but would need to be persuaded!

Regular shavings an option but costly!

Thanks!
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I use Aubioise for all of mine. I have a small manure clamp so straw is not an option. It's super easy to clean and I only take the wet out once a week!
 
It's £12 a bag at our local place! I guess it depends where you live...
I use it under straw and it does a great job of soaking up the wee. One of mine in particular wees indiscriminately everywhere and she would be a nightmare on just straw. Hope you find a good solution that isn't too costly. 😊
I've also used Nedzsbed when Aubiose was out of stock and that had a similar effect.
 
Thanks I’m going to order some of the excel bedding once it’s back in stock in a week, currently out of stock so they are sending me a small pack to try. Got to find something for the weekend as we are moving yards so probably get some shavings to tide me over until the excel arrives x
 
Bobthecob15 said:
I stand corrected Wynnstays who are nearby have Aubiose for £16.80 a bag! Thats a hard no! 🤪
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Blimey that’s extortionate, my local feed store does it for £12.80 and even cheaper by the pallet. I’ve been thinking of changing one of mine over to it as he demolishes a straw bed but they have hay on the floor and he’d make a right mess.
 
After the price of wood pellets escalated a couple of years ago I swapped to chopped rape straw. I’ve used both Rapasorb and Burley Bed versions and like both.
 
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