Question for those that use wood pellet bedding

[bounce]

Can anyone that uses a wood pellet type of bedding let me know whether, in the heat of this wonderful summer we are having, you have to water them a lot to avoid them getting dusty.
I'm considering changing from a paper bedding to the wood pellets but as my horse only wees in one spot whether the rest of the bed is likely to get very dry. He's going to be on box rest for 6 weeks so I want a nice clean bed that will stay comfortable and in its place for as long as possible and is non slip on rubber mats.

 

[Rouletterose]

Do you mean the little bits of broken wood a bit like matchsticks? I used something similar to this quite a while ago and wouldn't use again, simply because when my horse had been lying down for a while they kept sticking into her body and one day we found on the inside of her thigh a small infected septic lump oozing pus and vet pulled out a small piece of this wood about 1/3"" long that had penetrated the skin and festered.

Apart from this I was always picking bits off her, so if it's the same stuff I wouldn't use it for that reason. hope that helps.

 

[Booboos]

I mix the whole bed together so I've never had to wet it other than the first time, but if it is getting very dry a little bit of water with a watering can should help.

 

[martlin]

QR
I do sprinkle the bed with water now and again, but it doesn't need much TBH.

 

[ColouredFan]

Just a sprinkle with a watering can works if the bed gets a bit dusty!

 

[spaniel]

I never water mine once its down....it doesnt get dusty.

 

[Chico Mio]

If it's the pellet type bed, no it doesn't get dusty. It's bizarre stuff but I find it excellent for my gelding. It last for ages too, FB's current bed was put down in the middle of April and is still going strong with the addition of a couple of bags to make up what's been taken out of the wee patches.

 

[H's mum]

I don't water mine either - it breaks down but it's not dusty
Kate x

 

[Patches]

Does it depend on the make?

H's mum...am I right in thinking you use Corley's? On their website it looks more like a "fluff" than sand when it's mixed with water. Is this correct?

I really cannot risk going over to wood pellets if there is a chance of dust forming in the stable, due to P's sinus problems recently.

 

[H's mum]

Hi Patches - it's really strange stuff - it breaks down to tiny soft wood particles which aren't dusty at all - You know the thin (or thick

) layer of dust you get all over everything when you open a bale of shavings? Well you just don't get any with the wood pellets - Ask them to send you a sample so you can see how it breaks down - It's really economical - I use 2 sacks every 5 days (I'm getting into some sort of routine with it now!) but I like my beds to be clean and don't mix in the wet I remove it daily

It's really quick and easy to muck out and yes.. I use Corley Biowood -they are really nice to deal with!

Kate x

 

[Patches]

That's really interesting H's Mum.

I'm keen to move them all over to something but am worried about P's nose. When you have four, it gets expensive when you look at some of the "posh" bedding alternatives.

Some shavings I've had have been really dusty, even though dust extracted. The bigger flaked shavings, which are really perfect dust wise, just don't absorb very well!

Will email them.

 

[Patches]

Crikey.....what service!

In the time since my previous reply and this one, I've received a lovely email back from Corley Bio Wood Products with a promise of a sample being sent to me.

Amazing!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Patches - I use pellets and can send you some piccy's of my beds made upo if it helps - one horse is v clean the other is a total minger!! But works really well for both of them - won't be using anything else! I don't find them dusty at all.

 

[Patches]

That would be great slinky, thank you!