Nicely "seasoned" straw?!

[FionaM12]

Very soon Mollie will be indoors almost all the time on a straw bed. There's very little winter turnout round here, too much rain and soggy fields.

I was thinking about avoiding her eating her bed, and read a thread here which advised spraying vinegar on the straw. So I did an experiment.

I diluted some vinegar, and put a carrot in it. I offered it too Mollie. She sniffed, licked, then ate it with enjoyment. Then I poured a little vinegar on the palm of my hand and held it out. She licked it clean and looked eagerly for more.

So I won't be spraying vinegar on Mollie's straw. If she didn't eat it before, she might when it's nicely seasoned!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I've used the following to 'reasonable' effect:
Get a plant mister bottle spray (pick up in £1 shops).
Fill 10% jeyes fluid & then fill to top with water, shake well & spray over bedding.

This does stop those 'interested' in picking at it, but I have a small fuzzy that would completely turn the bedding over to get to the nice stuff underneath this pony would then colic or be very uncomfy for 24 hrs or so.
Shaving was the only way forwards & remains so today.

 

[FionaM12]

Yes, someone mentioned Jeyes on the original thread but others thought it risky, given the warnings on the can. Hence the vinegar suggestion.

Mollie hasn't done much straw-eating so far, but then she's mostly been at grass and when she has been in, she's had plenty of hay. I'm wondering whether she'll run out of hay during the long winter nights, and start on her bed.

At present (when she's in, which isn't much) she has a layer of shavings to soak up the wee as the stable has no drainage, then a thick layer of straw simply because i don't know about the horse, but I personally love a big thick straw bed.

 

[ebonyallen]

I have tried the jeyes fluid no effect then blacksmith said to try talc powder amd guess what she has just turned into a giant black powder puff that smell very nice and she still eats it, I give up, anyone have any other ideas please So will not be trying the vingar then lol