Sawdust bedding - yes or no?

[CurryCombTalesBlog]

What do people think about using sawdust? I may be offered some free bags and I was considering using similar for day boxes as I'm wasting straw when they have a big pee in there at the moment! Stables have good ventilation and I'm assuming that it's best practice to check for chunks of wood etc when opening the new bags (same as with straw really, bits can get stuck in there).

Have people used it before? What do you think of it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[HiPo'sHuman]

My friend deep litters on sawdust and says it's fantastic! I'm thinking about trying it, not really getting on with chopped rape straw with my dirty one

 

[CurryCombTalesBlog]

I'm using wood pellets on another yard and I imagine that it's a similar consistency (once the pellets are soaked, I mean), although £7 a bag in comparison to straw prices around here make that too expensive for me. I feel you on the chopped straw - that's a pain to muck out!

 

[lauracwd2]

I use it and find it really quick and easy to muck out. I have a fairly deep bed to start with but I do a full muck out every day. Takes up less space on the muck heap than straw. I'm careful not to open new bags when the horses are in or just about to come in to let it settle but I don't find it overly dusty once it's down.

 

[littlemiss1]

I use sawdust as a base on my shavings bed for my very wet gelding. I think it works great i can just skip out during the week and take the wet out at weekends

 

[holeymoley]

I used to use it and rated it until they spent a few days in without turnout due to the weather. It was the only time ever in 13 years that my gelding got thrush. Related or not I'm not sure but it put me off after that. Also the fact you had to put a new bale in and let it settle for a while! Prices were also on the increase in comparison to other beddings.

 

[twiggy2]

I used to use it dampened down under a deep straw bed, the straw was mucked out daily and the shaving were removed and replaced when soaked through.
I found it better than wood pellets because my mare at the time believed nothing pellet shaped was edible and would rake through the wood pellet bed and eat all the pellets that had been left whole.

 

[Meredith]

I used sawdust under a shavings bed. Skipped out regularly and wet parch shovelled out as necessary. It was great for a horse which turned a loose bed into a mess resembling fruit cake mix as the base was stable.
( excuse pun)

 

[ameeyal]

I use sawdust, then put a layer of straw on top, it's very absorbant.

 

[Louby]

Ive used it under shavings and straw, just in the wee areas mostly. I wouldnt fancy a full bed of it as it is proper dusty but its great for absorbing pee! I used to leave it and not disturb it until I did a full muck out, then replace the sawdust areas. I would imagine it pretty tough shifting the wet etc it in a full sawdust bed

 

[rabatsa]

I have used sawdust as you intend, for day beds. It was easy and soaked up the wee. I would use again but my free source dried up when the sawmill moved away.

 

[mums the groom]

I use deep litter sawdust, it takes minutes to muck out every night, although my base has been down for months and is lovely and compacted, only take out the wet at weekends when I have time, and at £3 a bale if I bulk buy a pallet at a time it has been the most economical bedding I have had.