miscanthus (elephant grass) bedding - help

[makkapakka]

Anyone using it?

After much deliberation I bought a pallat of this bedding - thought it would be economical, absorbent and rot down easily. Struggling to keep a decent bed (economically) and this is is with horses turned out 24/7 except in bad weather; worst case has been galeforce winds when kept in for 36 hours. One horse is a bit of a "walker" but the mare (with foal) is pretty clean.

I have been deep littering, skipping out poos regularly. I did remove wet stuff first week, but used too much bedding and supplier said only take out droppings. If there is a very obvious sodden wet patch will scoop it out, though. What I don't like is when I top up with fresh bedding, it quickly absorbs the wet from below (presumably because it is so absorbent) and becomes damp (noticable, when I walk across it, you can see dark footprints). So unless I put a very thick layer down on top, can't get a dry bed (and this would need probably 2-3 bales a week in winter, when horses will be in more). Its noticeable when cleaning out their feet, how wet the bedding is.

The bed is 4-6" thick and laid down on EVA matting; falls not great but there is not a concrete base, its compressed stone and hardcore, so should be draining below.

Any advice welcome. Wondering is should use a dual layer system with miscanthus as bottom layer and something less absorbent/ more draining on top? Or is there a better alternative?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I use miscanthus on rubber matting. Drainage not good in the stable.

Personally, if on rubber matting, I find less not more is the best way, for me anyway. My man is out most of the time but is a sweetitch so needs to come in overnight to cover dawn & dusk, plus I usually bring him in from say 11 am to 3 ish when its really hot.

What I do is to skip out the poo; then with a narrow guauge fork just lift up the bed and throw it on the side of the box to bank up and leave it to air, then sweep out the main bedding and remove any wet bits - after that I'd put new bedding into the central section so horsie has something dry to lie on and the bits you're airing are nicely piled up at the side so he shouldn't get cast.

The other thing you could do, if you have the room and its not blowing a hooley, is to put out the wet bits to dry in the sun and then re-use in the stable.

 

[makkapakka]

Thanks -

I presume from this you are using it for a daily bed as opposed to deep littering. Interesting what you say about letting it dry out and then reusing it; it certainly doesn't smell. Will try what you suggest with the gelding (the walker); top layer much drier with mare and foal.

Did you try any other bedding types?

 

[emma3870]

i use this. love it. i deep litter mine. i do mix the first bed with a bale of shavings/confetti shredded paper so its not slippy. on really wet horses that walk it doesnt work - just makes a messy bed. i have left mine down for 18 months and top it up with a bale about every 6 weeks (this is for a sec A who is in all the time). used it with youngsters and no bother at all. the wet just goes dark and not soggy with mine. its about 6" deep and on a hardcore base.