Savings v straw

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moneypit1

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I generally use shavings with my two but at a cost of over £20 a week (2 x bales each). I have now had to change to straw. I can get barley straw for £1.50 a bale. The downside is that I have to spray it with a weakened solution of Jeyes Fluid or Fly will eat it. Also it makes more mess on the muck heap so I have the extra expense of removal ~(but then cheaper to buy). The up side is it is so much cheaper. With the two of them (on rubber matting) it works out at 3 bales a week for them both. £4.50 v £20+ I have found that with shavings I remove two full wheelbarrows a day from each, (thats on rubber matting too)! I cannot just use the matting on its own, its slippery when wet and they soil their rugs, gross. What do you use and Why?
 
flax and rubber mats, i use one bale a week and thats being generous! put three bales in there to start with. use 24quid a month, and the mucking out is so easy - i poo pick properly and get wet bits then do the whole lot at the w/e but never get out more than a wheelbarrow. I used to use shavings but used 4 a week as my mare is so dirty.Flax falls through teh shavings fork easier leaving the poo and i find it much more absorbent. I changed when it costed me more for her to poo then to feed her!
 
I use shavings on rubber matting because that's what we get from the yard, and at £2 a bag (use 2 a week) shavings for us is cheaper than straw round here would be. Also prefer it because it's less dusty (although ours isn't 100% dust free).
 
ive just switched my mare from shavings onto straw as since she has had neighbours she does nothing but scrap over the walls with them hence kicking the muck everywhere and its a nightmare to pick up all the little bits. she also started eating the bed as soon as she got in the stable but after a few days i put all the fresh straw underneath and the old straw on top and she doesnt seem to bother with it now
 
Use straw as it's cheap, wet all soaks to the bottom and the muck heap rots mega fast.

Shavings pile at my old place hardly depleted after 12yrs!
 
I have changed Star to straw. I use one bale a week at £ 2.50 as opposed to £ 13 per week for Easibed/Shavings.

I'm lucky she doesn't eat it and my straw is not dusty.
 
Flax on matting - I get thru abt 2 bales a month for both of them but I am stingy on the bedding
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i use straw, i buy the mega large bales at £15.00 and that lasts 2 horses about 4 weeks! If i had to use something else i would use flax, found it very very absorbant and easier and more cost effective than shavings. The most awful to work with is paper in my opinion!
 
I use shavings and get through about two bales a week. I used to use straw but I find shavings so much easier, Star is really messy and used to spread poo around in the straw which made it hard to muck out.
 
I use both. I use a small square of shavings in the rubber-matted stable. In the shelter (which also can be a stable, its got a proper sloping concrete base etc.) I use straw simply because it is so cheap and with them coming and going, it doesnt all spew out the front like shavings can. One big round bale lasts me the whole winter usually!
 
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