Horse eating hemp bedding?!

[NellRosk]

Has anyone come across this? My fatty ID had to be taken off straw due to excessive consumption of it so researched other types and decided on hemp. When he went in his stable he started eating it like it was chop?! Stopped once I gave him his tea and hay but has anyone else had a horse that eats this?

 

[Pilib]

I haven't had the same problem but I know you can get citronella scented rape straw bedding. That might be worth a try as it can't taste nice!! I have a fatty ID too but he hasn't worked out he can eat his bedding yet!

 

[be positive]

Some of mine will eat a little of a new bed but it does not seem to continue once the bed has been down a few days even when clean is added, if you mix it round a bit when mucking out he should soon stop, mine have not eaten enough to do any harm or worry me that they might.

 

[MrsNorris]

Mine also always tries a new bed but its always just a mouthful and then he stops. He did chew up a couple of wood pellets once which worried me a bit, but he didn't make a habit of it!

 

[NellRosk]

Thanks for that everyone! Hopefully when he realises his hay is nicer he'll stop. Can't afford to be feeding him bedding!

 

[Laafet]

If you are worried you can mix up a weak Jeyes or bleach solution and spray the bed with it, we did this with the rehabs as most of them had not been on straw before.

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

Yes, I have a horse that has eaten hemp bedding, but I haven't yet found a bedding she won't eat (even when there's plenty of hay, I think she must enjoy the variety). She eats straw, hemp, paper, wood flakes and wood shavings.