Miscanthus bedding

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Irishbabygirl

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Can I have your opinions on this bedding please? The farmer where I keep my boys stocks it, so makes my life easier to use it as its on site.
I've had a Google and can't really find out how to use it, so thought you lovely lot may be able to help!
Is it better to leave the wet in like aubiose or just to muck out property - or does it not matter either way?
 
I use it and really like it. I do a deep bed and just skip out the poo in the week. With one pony I take all the wet out at the weekend. With my other pony I'm trying deep littering and perhaps just taking the wet out when needed as she's very clean in her stable.

I have just had to put my old horse back on shavings as he's very messay / wet and it doesn't work well for him.
 
Yes I'm a tad worried gutsy WB will tuck into it, but guess he won't if I deep litter it :-)
I think I would prefer to deep litter as I don't have rubber mats at this new yard, but never deep littered before as a bit anal about my mucking out!
 
I have been using this for the past year & really like it! I have 6horses on it. However, I am currently trialling a different bedding as I'm suspecting the miscanthus has contributed to one of the horses RAO, although this isn't confirmed yet just suspected!!

I have been semi-deep littering them with about 6" of bedding (on rubber mats), skipping them out daily & lifting every weekend (they are only in in an afternoon at the mo). I average about 1wheelbarrow of wet a week per horse. Initially tried mucking out daily, but found it needed a little time to absorb the wet otherwise the floor seemed quite wet when lifting.

Rosehip - my fatty walked in when it was first put down & grab a gaint mouthful of it! (She also did this to megazorb! lol!) & even though she is on a seriously restricted diet she only did this on the first day.
 
I love it!! Much cheaper than shavings and I think it makes a much nicer solid bed. I muck out properly every day, bed is chucked up into the banks during the day and the floor left to dry out and then its pulled down when she's in. I think it works well and I love it :)
 
Sounds good then!!
Loz9 - The only things I've found that Mels doesn't eat are shavings, Bedmax and Hemcore! She eats Rapport and Nedz Bedz, even the eucalyptus infused stuff!
I might try a bag of Miscanthus then! x
 
I have a horse susceptible to RAO on it and he's not too bad. It is quite dusty though when putting fresh bedding down so definitely do it when horse / pony isn't around.

My fatty Sec A will eat it, the other 2 don't

Cheaper than shavings and possibly more absorbent but what it is really good at is deep litter system. What I have found with it though is that it's not very good if you have a really really wet horse. Then it's just super smelly and urine just doesn't get absorbed quickly enough when setting up the deep litter bed.

Would definitely recommend giving it a go. You will either like it and get on well with it or not.
 
I use it and find it really absorbent especially when using a deep litter system in the winter months. At the moment I skip out daily then every 7 to 10 days I take out 2 barrow loads of wet, lift up so floor drys then put back down adding 1 new bale. I find using miscanthus very economical.
 
I found it was good for my mare who is quite tidy anyway, but it wasn't up the the job with my incredibly wet and messy gelding, even when deep littered. Try it out though, especially as its on site!
 
Rosehip said:
Sounds good then!!
Loz9 - The only things I've found that Mels doesn't eat are shavings, Bedmax and Hemcore! She eats Rapport and Nedz Bedz, even the eucalyptus infused stuff!
I might try a bag of Miscanthus then! x
Click to expand...

Wouldn't put it past Elks to also eat them too! (Shes only been on shavings, megazorb, miscanthus & now woodchip) I stood in shock when she ate the megazorb! Its really dry stuff & defiantely doesn't smell tasty! But then shes also the wierd horse that like mustard! lol!

Would definately give it a go tho, could you maybe just put a small corner of her bed as it to begin with to trial it?
 
Hi Loz9, yes, I think Mels would eat mustard too!haha! I nearly died when there was an entire bale of nedz bedz gone in the morning, she was trumping eucalyptus and her breath stank! I even called the vet to see if it would kill her!!
I think I will get a bale, and then just put a little down, if she does eat it I can use it as bedding for my guinea's and the ducks!

Has anyone got a picture of a miscanthus bed? xx
 
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