Cardboard bedding

Mince Pie

Mince Pie

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Hi guys, just after some advice if possible? I have a COPD horse who is struggling a little at the moment, he is already on soaked hay and dust free shavings and tomorrow he will probably go on Ventipulmin. My YO mentioned cardboard bedding which my local merchants do so is easy to get hold of, however my lad is deep littered (with wood pellets on the bottom layer) and I don't know how well cardboard would get on with this system?

Any other things I should know about cardboard?


Thanks :)
 
Hi, I've had my boy in cardboard for 10yrs due to COPD. Love it! Makes a great bed and is so abdorbant. I semi deep litter, poo out every day and wet out twice a week. But would work on full deep litter too. I found its easier to pick poo out with marigolds, the scrape dry stuff off and your left with contained wet patches if you want to take wet out. Never had a problem with my boy since and he's in an airy stable with cardboard and soaked hay.

Good luck
 
Excellent :) My lad is very wet (14.2, drinks 2 large buckets of water a night :eek:) so have to deep litter or price is astronomical! Would you say you take more or less wet bedding out with cardboard vs shavings?
 
I would say its pretty similar to shavings, cardboard is MUCH more absorbent though so you may go through less. I would probably leave it for the first 5 days to a week then scrape off top layer and you'll see the wet patches and will be able to judge from that. It doesn't really spread so if horse is really wet then you might be able to just scoop out the actual patch and leave the rest of base untouched.
 
I've found it drier than shavings but have not used it as deep litter as only use thin layer over rubber matting.
I love cardboard bedding but have gone back to shavings as easier for me to get hold of!
However I may get myself better organised this year and order a pallet load.
 
I use cardboard too. It is really warm. I don't deep litter, but it takes no time at all to muck out - 5 mins max. Pick out the droppings and then scrape off the dry cardboard, the wet all clumps together and is easy to shovel up. It's economical and there is hardly any waste as it is so absorbent. I take out far less wet than shavings and 2 bags of cardboard last as long as 3 bags of shavings.
 
Another positive response, and I have used it to fully deep litter without problems. I would say you need to fully muck out a little more often than with shavings (like you I had a COPD horse and I tried shavings then moved onto cardboard), but nothing major.
 
I never lift my wet - the top wet layer gets a few inches scraped off every month and a fresh bag of wood pellets put down. So wanted to make sure that the cardboard would suit this arrangement which it sounds like it does so will get a couple of bales to try on Wednesday :)
 
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