People with BIG deep litter beds, what do you use?

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skewby

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First time ever I'm going to be at a yard where I can choose and supply my own bedding. Can't have straw but don't really want to go back to it anyway.

I deep litter on rubber mats, entire stable filled with bedding at least 6" deep, with banks all the way round. Current stable is 12'x12', new one is 12'x15' but bed will be the same (as in, right to the walls on all sides).

Horse is 16hh draught x with big bladder and adlib hay so plenty to absorb. He's pretty good and doesn't churn it up, though the bed's so big he'd have a job.

At the yard I'm at I've used a variety of stuff, but it was all cheap end stuff as the yard put such a big mark up on the bedding that they kept chopping and changing to try and keep costs down whilst still making a good bit on what we bought from them.

So I have variously used cheap shavings, cheap hemp type bedding (which we stopped using as so many people complained horses were eating it though mine never did) and am currently on Comfybed (wood fibre).

I don't really fancy using shavings again as I must say I have liked the softness of the hemp and wood fibre beds better, also I seem to find them easier to muck out as they fall through the fork.

However despite bed being massive I can still only semi-deep litter, as I find I will have to dig it out once a week. Whether this is cos it actually needs it or me being anal I'm never quite sure about :D

I am sort of tempted by Aubiose, but it is pricey. Is it worth it? Megazorb seems to get a good write up but I'm not sure of its consistency, in photos (all I've seen) it looks a bit...lumpy?

I know bedding is frequently done to death on here and have just spent the last hour doing searches on the various beds I'm considering! But as the kind of bed I like to have doesn't seem popular with most I thought I'd put a post up in case there are any other massive bedders out there like me who can advise :)

All thoughts and bedding feedback hugely appreciated.
 
I am a bit of a bedding obsessive so here are my thoughts!

I absolutely love Megazorb, if I was rich I would use it over anything, very very absorbent, no smell, quick and easy to do. I just can't afford to use it at the moment (mainly down to the start up costs as it is economical once in use.

I also love flax, but again it is getting too expensive. I find it very absorbent, no smell and again quick to do.

At the moment I have most of mine on deep wood pellet bases with something else as banks! My banks are mainly to provide me with a sprinkle of something clean and dry to put over when I've mucked out. I like to use flax or hemp (Rapport) for the banks but at the moment I am getting a few 'broken' bales of shavings very cheaply so am using that. Works really well for me!

Hope that helps a bit!
 
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I use Aubiose for Genie and just dig the wet out each week. She has a 12x12 stable with bedding in about half of it, about 3 - 4 inches deep, and just one bank at the back. The stable also has rubber matting. I find I can get 1 week's wet and 1 night's poo into one wheelbarrow and as a result Aubiose works out cheaper for me as it's the only bedding I've used so far where I just use one bale a week.
 
Interesting. Thanks guys!

Funnily enough after posting this I went up to the yard and had another good dig through his current bed (moving is a nightmare with a bed that size!!) and it was really funny as I found layers of odd bits of old bedding I've used, which was a good opportunity to see what each is like and how it weathers long term!

The nicest stuff which was all fresh and lovely still was the hemp/flax type stuff we used at one point (wish I could remember what it was exactly), also shavings weathered well. The Comfybed obv has a tendency to go a bit old and manky.

There is a good local supplier who does Aubiose and Megazorb...also a bedding called "Jo Pak Flax" which I've never heard of, presume this is a cheaper version of Aubiose at £8/bale (as opposed to £9.95/bale for Aubiose, presuming bales are same size as size not given). Anyone used it?

Have to say am tempted by Aubiose as I love the softness of it...appylass I perceive it to be lumpy and hard compared to Aubiose, what is the consistency actually like?? xx
 
Skewby the JoPak is the same as Aubiose in my experience, just less costly! Megazorb is also very soft and not 'lumpy'.If you imagine a tissue in your pocket that has been through the washing machine and then dried in a small screwed up 'blob' that's as close as I can get to describing it! Ooh, another thing, every single time I have changed a horse to megazorb I have had to rethink their rugs as they seem to find it really warm. Megzorb doesn't stick to rugs either (I don't sell it, honest!!)
 
appylass said:
I absolutely love Megazorb, if I was rich I would use it over anything, very very absorbent, no smell, quick and easy to do. I just can't afford to use it at the moment (mainly down to the start up costs as it is economical once in use.
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This exactly, I have four on it and have done for about 8 months now. Best change I ever made and I tried a few before it and this was without a doubt the best. I tried flax, hemp shavings (both big and small flakes) and straw.

As said expensive to set up but once its going its cheap and so quick and easy to use (falls through fork).

What I really like about it though is that once it has settled (takes a week/two) it is a really good surface, doesn't move and is very cushioning. So if no rubber matting don't need to worry about concussion if they lie down/roll.
 
appylass said:
Megazorb is also very soft and not 'lumpy'.If you imagine a tissue in your pocket that has been through the washing machine and then dried in a small screwed up 'blob' that's as close as I can get to describing it!
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Pmsl that is SUCH a good description, exactly what I wanted!!

Awesome thank you both, Megazorb it is :D xxxx
 
Henbug said:
What I really like about it though is that once it has settled (takes a week/two) it is a really good surface, doesn't move and is very cushioning.
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That's mega helpful and helped me decide. EXACTLY the kind of bed I like and am looking for.

Also not a bad price really considering its reviews/rep?! :)
 
Henbug said:
What I really like about it though is that once it has settled (takes a week/two) it is a really good surface, doesn't move and is very cushioning. So if no rubber matting don't need to worry about concussion if they lie down/roll.
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I forgot that bit, it is absolutely the best at forming a solid base, it almost goes like felt. Just DON'T fiddle with it for a week or two after putting it down!

skewby said:
Pmsl that is SUCH a good description, exactly what I wanted!!

Awesome thank you both, Megazorb it is :D xxxx
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Lol, I really struggled to describe it so I'm glad it helped!

skewby said:
That's mega helpful and helped me decide. EXACTLY the kind of bed I like and am looking for.

Also not a bad price really considering its reviews/rep?! :)
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I'll be interested to hear what you think in a few weeks time D
 
Can I throw a proverbial cat amongst the pigeons?.......Try Lay-Soft. Easy-peasy to skip out, can easily go a couple of months without a full muckout (I'm a bit anal about this, but have found I'm wasting my time if I do it any more regularly), isn't dusty, doesn't stick to tails or rugs, and best of all it constantly looks like a fresh new bed, the top just doesn't discolour at all.

Sorry!
 
trottingon said:
Can I throw a proverbial cat amongst the pigeons?.......Try Lay-Soft. Easy-peasy to skip out, can easily go a couple of months without a full muckout (I'm a bit anal about this, but have found I'm wasting my time if I do it any more regularly), isn't dusty, doesn't stick to tails or rugs, and best of all it constantly looks like a fresh new bed, the top just doesn't discolour at all.

Sorry!
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AAaaarrrggghhh!

Ok googled it...but not sure I can get it here (Glos). Seems just an oop north thing?? :D
 
wispa said:
so out of interest, how come you aren't goign to use the comfybed from now on??
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I did think about it, it's very reasonably priced, I like the bed it makes and it's easy to muck out. But I'm pretty sure it's not quite as absorbent as other bedding I've used, also bits of under my banks have gone a little bit manky, whereas the shavings and flax/hemp stuff I used are even older but not horrid at all. It's not a bad bed though I just fancy trying something else now I have free rein :)
 
skewby said:
I did think about it, it's very reasonably priced, I like the bed it makes and it's easy to muck out. But I'm pretty sure it's not quite as absorbent as other bedding I've used, also bits of under my banks have gone a little bit manky, whereas the shavings and flax/hemp stuff I used are even older but not horrid at all. It's not a bad bed though I just fancy trying something else now I have free rein :)
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always good to know....we keep on trying!
 
skewby said:
I did think about it, it's very reasonably priced, I like the bed it makes and it's easy to muck out. But I'm pretty sure it's not quite as absorbent as other bedding I've used, also bits of under my banks have gone a little bit manky, whereas the shavings and flax/hemp stuff I used are even older but not horrid at all. It's not a bad bed though I just fancy trying something else now I have free rein :)
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I found the same thing when I tried it for Genie... made a nice bed but I was using more of it so it was costing me more overall. Hence I moved back to Aubiose which, although more expensive per bale, works out cheaper per week.
 
Stupid statement / question though, are you taking the clean bedding with you when you move? I have found I have saved a fortune when doing this and also horse settles quicker with a familiar bed?
It is a bit of a pain but saves loads - we bought 10 huge sacks of "used" shavings with us to the current yard (I do like a big bed!) and actually didn't need any new at all once it was all fluffed up (I have Equimats the 28mm ones)
 
I think Cushion Bed is the same as Lay soft but is more southern. We use Cushion Bed, Shaving and straw at my yard and as a YO, over the years we have dabbled with a few different types.

My fave... would prob have to be Nedz Bed (chopped straw) MIXED in myself with shavings. Makes a fab bed. I have tried chopped straw/shavings mixed in such as Duo Bed but much prefer to do my own as i can get the quantities as i want them!

With the Cushion Bed/Lay soft type i dont think you could do massive banks that easily? My liveries that use it have tiny banks/smaller beds with matting.

The stables we have with nice big banks in are either shavings or straw.

You may find if you do take your existing bed with you that you wont need to add more for quite some time as i imagine it will be quite compressed and once fluffed up, will go further than you think. One other major thing to consider - how does the new stable drain??
 
jnb said:
Stupid statement / question though, are you taking the clean bedding with you when you move? I have found I have saved a fortune when doing this and also horse settles quicker with a familiar bed?
It is a bit of a pain but saves loads - we bought 10 huge sacks of "used" shavings with us to the current yard (I do like a big bed!) and actually didn't need any new at all once it was all fluffed up (I have Equimats the 28mm ones)
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Not stupid question at all, yes I am, even though it's a hassle! For the reasons you describe.

I have been running my bed down for a while now but still plenty in there. Not looking forward to bagging it all up but it has to be done! It will make a good base for the new bed. Also I would shudder to think of all the cash I spent on it and also the time I've spent carefully removing poo from it! I don't think I could chuck it all out if I wanted to!! :D
 
luckilotti said:
One other major thing to consider - how does the new stable drain??
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Yes I have wondered about this and I HOPE it will drain well. The block is only 4 years old and not one of the stables had evidence of wee that has seeped out the front (like at my current yard where the stables are lovely but much older and it just doesn't drain that well, in fact recently a livery nearly got kicked off the yard for having so much wee coming out of the front of her stable on to the yard :eek: !!
 
miss_c said:
I found the same thing when I tried it for Genie... made a nice bed but I was using more of it so it was costing me more overall. Hence I moved back to Aubiose which, although more expensive per bale, works out cheaper per week.
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Yeah that's what I concluded - the price is temptingly cheap but I think it may well be false economy.
 
Luckilotti have just noticed your sig and it made me giggle! Bit bonkers did you have pics in there that were too big? Or did someone think you were advertising your foals?!

Re the bedding I think I am pretty sold on the megazorb idea. It's the "felt" description that gets me I love that idea I have to have it!!! :D
 
skewby said:
Thanks TO. I would be more than happy to order in bulk (£ saver) but I don't believe I will have room at new livery to store so much!
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ah but like I said I contacted them for my local supplier's details....and they do free delivery!!!

And just to let you know I have absolutely no drainage in my stable. Love this bedding it is sooooo absorbant!! (and No, I don't work for the company!)
 
skewby said:
Luckilotti have just noticed your sig and it made me giggle! Bit bonkers did you have pics in there that were too big? Or did someone think you were advertising your foals?!
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No pictures even! :(
just 2 RIPs dates and names, then 2 of the foal countdown tickers next to each other (like a lot of members have - smaller than a lot of the photo banner sigs). i have seen loads of people who are still advertising things, or have biggggg photos and they havent had a slapped wrist lol!
I'm guessing someone maybe didnt like what i posted so pushed a button for some reason!

Hope the move goes well - if you can get your hands on some used 1 tonne builders sacks, they are fab for moving beds, and relatively easy to drag up a ramp to get in a box/trailer.
 
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