I have been on rubber mats but they are a nightmare to move to clean, cant have straw.
Would hemp bedding be better for a box walker
Would hemp bedding be better for a box walker
Best bedding for box walker?
- Thread starter Penny Less
- Start date
SaharaS
Well-Known Member
I have one on New Wood which is like hemp/bliss/aubiose but the 'splinters' for want of a better word are much thicker but are not shavings and are dust free. Mole Valley Farmers sell it and its far better than the above brands I've mentioned and have tried everything now including pellets (wood and miscanthus) I do use mats underneath tho, but thats because my stables have flagstone & cobbled floors which slope amd get lethally slippery when wet or damp-it also stops damp coming up thru from the ground under the stone so makes it warmer...totally understand some hate mats but just giving my reasons before I get jumped on by any one reading! The spelling of the brand may be Nuwood or something but is pronounced New Wood. i have tried it without mats in a box with a concrete screed floor, but put the matting back in-if they have a particularly stompy night and the bedding does move you are best with something underfoot so they won't get capped hocks /capped elbows or worse if they slip or get cast. Hope you find something that works..one of mine has been a maniacal box walker since his pal was pts and short of giving him a hammock I've tried everything!
Fools Motto
Well-Known Member
Got a few box walkers at work. Nothing is great that we have tried TBH, but what works best so far is a mix of shavings with straw over the top. Looks a bit messy, but it keeps the bed down better I think.
nikicb
Well-Known Member
Mine are on wood pellets. One of mine box walks. Sometimes it looks like he's done riverdance with a load of friends. But I find that if I pack the wood pellets down (4/5 inches deep), skim the droppings off (including late night skip out) and only take out wet patches when they rise to the surface, it holds pretty well. And I chuck him out as soon as I can in the morning and try and make sure he has something to eat all the time he's in.
maggiesmum
Well-Known Member
Ive found Wood pellets to be the best, they seem to be heavier than lots of other bedding do they don't move so much.
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
This - guaranteed to be a huge improvement! My wet mare and poo through a sieve then dance on it box walking gelding now take 20 mins each to muck out, it used to be an hour each when they were on shavings or straw. And their bed is much better and they are much more settled! win win!
Right I will try thewood pellets if I can get some locally without having a great load delivered( lack of storage)