Pellet Beds - experiences

[BlueFire710]

Hi all,
I wondered if anyone has used pellet beds - i saw them at one of the big 3 day events and have since tried them, and found them superb!

There is so much less wastage than with my previous bedding (chopped straw), the bags are easier to handle and i need to add less in per week making bedding much cheaper.
The other major benefit is that my boy's grey legs stay so much cleaner.

I just wanted to share my experiences of this new product as i have been so pleased with it, and wondered what other people's thoughts were?

Only downside i have found is that the odd bag does leak a little bit at the seams but mine are under a tarpaulin which sorts that problem out.

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

Love them wouldnt go back now. No leaks found in 18 months of bags but can be dusty if not moistened.

 

[Clippy]

I like the dryness, one of my horses was prone to thrush and was very dirty in his stable. I also like the price I like the time I save too, I can do 4 stables in less than half an hour and only one wheelbarrow to push

 

[kellybee]

Personally I found they're really heavy to muck out, and when wet they compact together, making the wee patch hard to get up sometimes!

 

[Paint Me Proud]

i have been using them for approx a year and i love them, quick and easy to muck out. Also agree with fewer stable stains, Chico has alot of white and he stays white when on pellets.

I ran out of pellets a coupld days ago and have had to go back onto shavings until my new pellets arrive and OMG it is disgusting, pool of wee everywhere - reminds me why i am on pellets!

I dont understand why more people arent trying them!

 

[cellie]

Im now trawling sites looking for best pellets and prices,any feedback or links welome

 

[mcnaughty]

LOVE THEM! Cannot find fault personally - cheap, fast, super absorbent, clean and rots down quick!!

 

[Paint Me Proud]

i buy from this company - http://www.pelletbeds.com/ - was one of their first customers when they started out and have stuck with them as cant really fault their product.

 

[SNORKEY]

I used them and hated them, I think they'd be ok with rubber matting or a clean horse. But they didn't suit our mare who was very wet and they were so heavy to work with it killed my back.

 

[nat_1]

Will be changing to verdo woodpellets in couple of weeks and cannot wait

 

[d_morrow]

I will be trying them for the first time this winter. I did a lot of research before deciding which bedding to use. The cheapest wood pellets (amongst others) were Liverpool Wood Pellets, Corley Biowood, and The Yard (around £4 per bag if buying in bulk). After lots of searching and reading on this forum I found that Nature's Best received consistently good reviews. It is a wood 'crumble' a bit like aquamax but cheaper. I have bought 50 bags @ 5.10 per bag http://www.naturesbedding.co.uk/buy/50-bags-natures-best-pellet-bedding/
I also bought some of their feed for a good price. Delivery was free and received within a week. AND they actually listened to my delivery instructions! I've yet to start using it, but they do say that you should build the bed up slowly, otherwise it can become heavy and difficult (from pellets which have not had the chance to break down properly) so perhaps that could be why some people have had problems? Most of the feedback I came across was very positive indeed.

 

[Milkmaid]

You can use the wood pellet waste in your garden as quickly as you can the straw. Both best left for 6 months to rot down to a black soil conditioner. Just make sure you mix the poo & wet for best results ;-)

 

[Wagtail]

i buy from this company - http://www.pelletbeds.com/ - was one of their first customers when they started out and have stuck with them as cant really fault their product.

Those are straw pellets. I've never tried them. I'm using wood pellets and love them but often wondered if I would use less if using straw pellets.

 

[starryeyed]

I'm in the minority but I really don't like pellet beds - maybe we were just unlucky. We tried several different brands and although they're so affordable and easy, and the beds were tidier, we just found they got far too dusty, and no amount of watering could sort it so we had to stop using them.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

My trouble is that you generally have to order in bulk. I want to try them but without committing to a huge order. No-one else on the yard uses them so I'm trying to persuade someone to try them with me!

 

[Paint Me Proud]

My trouble is that you generally have to order in bulk. I want to try them but without committing to a huge order. No-one else on the yard uses them so I'm trying to persuade someone to try them with me!

Pellet Beds offer smaller quantities - makes them a bit more expensive but worth it to try them out without committing to huge quantities.

 

[Dottyfordylan]

Cinnamontoast I think your local to me, the shop at my yard sells Verdo bedding per bag (chesham) if you wanted to try it. Costs about 5.80 a bag I put in about 8 bags to make a whole new bed. I love it!! So easy to muck out, clean and dry.

 

[mcnaughty]

I am lucky to have a local feed merchant selling them for £3.75 a bag so no need to buy in bulk - Believe wood pellets are a bit of a marmite thing - though most people seem to be of the 'like' button hitting....

 

[Polos Mum]

I loved them in the winter (same as most people, clean, quick and cheap) but in the summer when my boys are only in occassionaly to avoid flys and heat they were far too dusty, perfect if in regular use.

 

[mycocorocks]

You can use the wood pellet waste in your garden as quickly as you can the straw. Both best left for 6 months to rot down to a black soil conditioner. Just make sure you mix the poo & wet for best results ;-)

Milkmaid, the straw pellet bedding is rotting away in a few months, the wood was still there after a year!!!!even with mixing......