Deep Litter on Shavings

[yaffsimone1]

I have always mucked out poo and wet on a daily basis, this year i would like to try a proper deep litter.

I'm the only one on shavings at our yard, this may sound like a stupid question but do i go about it for a real, warm deep litter bed?

I have i've got the basic idea, remove the poo and leave the wet, however horse wee's in the same spot so if i leave the wet and don't disturb it i'm just going to end up with a big mound in the middle of his stable.

Can i remove the clean top layer and poo, spread the wet evenly, pack it down then place bed back on top? or does disturbing the wet defeat the whole point?

He is on rubber matting, i could always move the rubber mat to the front of the stable and just deep litter at the back but again i will still have the mound issue.

 

[Mongoose11]

When I did this I literally scattered a layer of the clean bedding over the wet spot everyday after removing the poo. It worked beautifully and I think I kept it for about four months, took it out for a health reason but as a bed it was great. Clean but as she doesn't box walk it was fine - she also wee'd in the same spot. I ended up with a bed about a foot and a half high.

 

[flirtygerty]

I tried deep litter on shavings last year, it was a disaster, all I ended up with was a soaking wet bed, stained horses and no heat to compensate, it was my first time with shavings though.
This year I have a base layer of shavings, since my stables get wet when it rains heavy, then a straw bed which will generate heat, I will top up the straw until my bales run out giving a good straw layer then back on shavings, so far the horses are using their beds every night, they normally prefer to be out

 

[Mince Pie]

I put pellets under the shavings which don't move so keep the base stable. My horse is very wet though so the base is evenly wet!

 

[DosyMare]

I find that if you use gloves and a bucket to remove the poo you don't disturb the wet. Eventually the wet spreads out across the bed - and the cleaner woodchip soaks it up.
Once you have a good foundation then your fork will be fine to use after a week or two.
Just keep topping up with clean bedding.
But beware they are horrid to muck out at the end of winter and they smell.

 

[Chestnutmare]

I have just changed to shavings too and am the only one with it at yard also, although he is reasonably clean which helps, he is not on matting either, I started with 5 bales to make a decent bed his stable is huge mind you so wanted to make sure he has a deep bed hate them capping themselves.

I am doing my upmost also to leave the wet in at least til weekends, he is very clean and has a spot where he goes the most, which is at the left hand side of his box.

I use gloves and bucket to remove the poo during week and will see how it is come the weekend whether I am to take wet out or not, just trying to fugure it out with him.
I am used to shavings anyway, but each horse is different with them, he was on straw but took him off it as he kept eating it and I am trying to monitor his weight (cob x).

 

[yaffsimone1]

I tried deep litter on shavings last year, it was a disaster, all I ended up with was a soaking wet bed, stained horses and no heat to compensate, it was my first time with shavings though.
This year I have a base layer of shavings, since my stables get wet when it rains heavy, then a straw bed which will generate heat, I will top up the straw until my bales run out giving a good straw layer then back on shavings, so far the horses are using their beds every night, they normally prefer to be out

I did consider this method. I generally don't like straw as i find it doesnt soak up the wet but it is lovely and warm and Red is very easy to muck out, so i may try a shavings base and straw on top