Deep litter - how deep, how to get started etc.?!

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diddy

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Hi all,

I’m thinking of moving my boy onto a deep litter bed as – like everyone else! – I never seem to have enough time and would rather spend what little I have doing more exciting things than mucking out! I’ve searched lots of threads on here but people seem to say different things so thought I’d tell you what I’m thinking of doing and see what people think. Please tell me if I’m doing it all wrong... ;)

First question is, can I start the bed off now..? He’s out until November but I bring him in overnight before shows etc. so was thinking of moving him off straw over the summer and getting the bed going. Or will it take ages to settle down if he’s not using it all night every night..?

Second question – how many bags of shavings to start off a deep litter bed for an average (12x12ish) stable..? People seem to use everything from 3 bags to 10! I was thinking of going for 5 and seeing what it looks like.

Third question – how deep? Again, seen some that don’t look deeper than an average bed and others that say 2’6 in the middle with 4’ banks. Like the idea of 2’6 myself – very comfy!

Finally(!) – how long to leave it down for? Some people clean it out once a week but understand that is semi-DL. If I want to leave it be, do I have to dig out every six months or every year? Or can it stay down indefinitely? I saw one of you has had the same bed down for 10 years – you are my hero and I would like to do the same or is that shocking..?!

All thought welcome – thank you muchly :)

Diddy. x
 
Hi,
When we started we (already had a big shavings bed) just skipped out for a week then took the top 3inches up on the banks, take the poop out, and just leave the wee but level the base out. Then put the shavings on the banks back down as it is a nice bouncey bed and means they stay clean.
Once bed is up and running i do that twice a month.

I took my d/l up when horses went out at night for summer as the wb gets very smelly in the summer with seasons but it will be redone come winter.
 
Started with 5 bales of shavings. I take the poo out when shes in and level the bed and tidy the banks. Then every weekend I add some new shavings on top. Will probably dig out once winter is over and done with and re start :) so hoping to keep mine for a long while yet.
 
The only drawback though is the horrendous task of cleaning it all out annually. I used todo this when much younger and helped with our neighbours horses. It wa straw and a horrible job getting it all out. I did semi DL myself in a large box, skipped out thoroughly daily and wee out once a week. Only one new bail a week but every 4 th week would put in 2. Worked very well!
 
Deep littering's great- until the annual dig out. I'm doing the last of my stables tomorrow, not looking forward to it at all.

I'll start it off with the clean bedding I saved from before the dig out, probably equivalent to three bales of shavings. I'll then add three more bags for banks. I've found it stays nicer if I just skip out, with gloves, tidy up and then once a fortnight, pull down two banks fully (alternating and put in two bales of Shavings to replace them. I have big banks, which allow me to add to the bed daily to cover any wet.

It's about a foot deep now. I pulled the clean stuff out today, but will be spending tomorrow afternoon removing bedding, de-cobwebbing, hosing and disinfecting. It's not a job I like. But the extra time the rest of the year makes up for it.
 
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