shavings to straw. . .

[Flint12]

My lad is on shavings at the moment. ..

Due to the price rise in shavings, he has the most pathetic bed. . .i used to use sawmill shavings but the horse next to me has very bad breathing problems and i don't want to make them any worse.

Flint is a very dirty git is all i can say and i have tried deep littering. . .but i dont like it. . .but am having to do it at the moment to make sure he has some king of bed. .

They have straw at the yard at the moment. . .would putting him on straw be ok for the dirtyness side of things and also be ok for the horse with breathing problems.. .


I was considering leaving some shavings underneath to soak up any extra wet and then removing at weekends. .

Any suggestions would be very greatful

Thanks

 

[QuobAsti]

Sounds fine.

As long as the straw isn't really dusty i don't see it being any different from sorting out a shavings bed.

I moved from shavings to straw some months back due to prices rising and my mare is rather disgustingly messy and i am actually finding it easier to muck out.

Leaving shavings underneath is fine, will help soak up some of the wet. You won't need to do it though if you have a decent size bed of straw.

You can always go back to shavings if you don't get on with the straw bed, so give it a go.

 

[jessica1508]

We have gone into straw apart from one person at our yard. Cost as the main factor, I was using 4 bales of shavings a week and they seemed to be lasting less.

I use plenty of straw with my boy who is big and dirty. When I swapped over I left the shavings on the base to soak up pee but, have since done away with this as the straw bed is now established. Any hay he leaves I keep and put under the new straw when I bed him down, this soaks up the pee.

Don't think I'll go back to straw (it now costs £7 A WEEK to bed 8 horses and some of those are really dirty and we have bog stables too!) Not just the cost but also the availability is easier. Our local supplier has a waiting list for shavings!

 

[perfectpolly]

have you thought about mats?
pricey, but well worth it. i got some and never looked back. had my girl on 1/2 bed of shavings . saved a fortune, and was alot quicker and easier to muck out...10 min job.
ebay has reasonably priced ones.
i never liked the look of mats before,still don't really, but am sold now! for practicality and cost.
straw is alot messier, if you've got a messy horse., but also a lot cheaper!!! alotttttt.
if concerned about other horse, just have a friendly chat with its owner .

 

[Flint12]

I have had mats before. . .and the one thing that i notice about them. . . .

Is they stink. . . I think i cleaned them as well. . . my mum cant stand the smell. . .

They horses owner is lovely so i may talk to her tmoz if i see her.

It is the price really. . .it is available at the yard so would be convenient (sp?) as well.

Thanks for your advice

 

[evelynb]

I keep my 2 on straw due to the cost of shavings... it is a pain to muck out but if you are willing to put in the work you will save money.

I have just ordered 6 mats for one of the stables because I was told it cuts down the bedding and the need for shoes so often so they may pay for themseves in the long run

 

[rcm_73]

I switched our 3 to straw due to cost and availability also. I just put a sprinkling of shavings down, straw banks and a thin layer of straw over the shavings as they each have 3 large mats which cover the majority of the concrete. One of the mares was particularly messy on shavings alone as she walked it all around but she is actually better on shavings as she can't walk it all in to little bits! You do end up having to take more out in a day and it does seem to stink quite alot more but then in our current climate it's alot cheaper at the end of each week.

 

[Fizzimyst]

I've always been on straw, tried shavings and paper in the past but always loved straw. Its cheap and you can have the most wonderful bed. Okay mine are monster beds but there are times when I think hmmm I could just flop in there and have a kip!

 

[Janah]

I have just started using straw again. I put it straight on to deep litter bed.

I use a bale a week and only remove the droppings. Works fine for me.
They both have mats and a huge bed. If they fell out they'd break a leg.

Jane

 

[catdragon]

We all have mats (fitted by YO) in our stables, I used to have shavings, but when it was 4-5 bales a week being used last summer, I swapped B to straw. I have found she is cleaner, and drier as the pee goes through to the bottom of the bed. She doesnt have an overly large bed and shes mucked out daily as oppose to deep litter and it doesnt smell that bad... THe horse next door has breathing issues and he has not been affected by the swap to straw. I would say just do it, see how you get on as you can always swap back if its not feasible. I wouldn't personally go back to shavings now...