Deep littering with straw

[hairycob]

Question for anybody who deep litters on straw - how often do you have a full clear out?
For the first time I'm at a yard where my horses have to come in at nights. I'm deep littering on straw (3 to do before work!). I've been recommended not to have a full clear out until the spring but the beds are so thick already (they have been coming in for 4 weeks now) that I'm beginning to think my oldie is going to need a disabled access ramp!
I'd prefer to have one of them on mats & a small shavings bed but the boxes are old calf pens and are humungous. Nice for them but too expensive for me to buy mats.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I semi-deep litter on straw during the week as I work and am very bad at getting up in the morning

I HAVE to clean it out every weekend though, otherwise the prospect is just too horrible to contemplate

 

[jewel]

i do the same as spoltchy when on straw and thats bad enough. would hate to think how wet and smelly it is after any longer

 

[hairycob]

That's interesting. For the first week or so I really thought I wasn't going to get on with the system but then the "underbed" stabilised. I keep a thick layer of straw on top & so far no smell. I'm convinced it's ging to be 2ft thick by the end of winter though

 

[_HP_]

I leave mine as long as possible so it pack's down and almost dries out. Mine will stay put till spring

 

[CrazyMare]

Mine has been down since Easter I think, regularly (ie every other day or so) topped up with fresh straw. It does seem to get thick quickly, but doesn't keep getting thicker, it settles down.

Won't clear it until they go out at night now. Its lovely and dry, warm, and clean!

 

[monkeybum13]

I take the wet out once a week, usually weekends when I have more time and then put a new bale down. I will top up the bed several times a week with a few slices but it saves so much time and straw and provides a lovely deep bed with thick, high banks.

 

[dorani]

Mine will stay down untill the spring. it can take a while to compact initially but makes a lovely warm bed for the horses and needs minimal work .

 

[hairycob]

I'm relieved to hear that they don't go on getting thicker at the same rate. The old boy does seem to appreciate a nice warm bed.