Shavings v Wood Pellets

Topstripe

Topstripe

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I have my 17hh and 11.2hh companion pony on shavings at moment but saw an advert in local paper re Wood pellets. Have done some digging on internet and notice that they are quite well used by people.

I wondered if any of you using wood pellets would be kind enough to let me know your thoughts - good and bad.
I am considering ordering 100 bags at £256 but since this is a big layout would like to know more about them from people who use them.
Do you find them easy to use?
Does it take a while to get used to them?
Does the wee clump up so easier to remove than with shavings?
How many would I need initially to make up a normal stable size bed which has rubber matting?
How many bags do you use a week?
Companies that you use?

Thanks for your time x
 
Do you find them easy to use? YES
Does it take a while to get used to them? yes
Does the wee clump up so easier to remove than with shavings? very much yes!
How many would I need initially to make up a normal stable size bed which has rubber matting?
10 bags
How many bags do you use a week? 2-4
Companies that you use? corley bio-wood.
 
I'm just in the process of changing my two boys off of shavings and on to pellets. I put one stable totally on pellets for the first time yesterday and already I'm a total convert!

Mucking out time and volume was halved, literally. And then today they withstood the ultimate test as something happened to stress my boy out. When he's stressed he poos for Britain, and boxwalks until he can barely stand!

There was poo splattered 6 foot up the walls he'd been so bad.

There was barely a scrap of bedding out of place!!! You could see pitted bits where he'd walked but all the poo stayed on top, and none of the bed moved with him, other than a fine sprinkling in a couple of laces.

Normally if he's box walked poo that far up the walls it's a 3 wheelbarrow and new bed job, tody it was easy!

I bought 100 bags of White Horse value pellets, cost £2.50 per bag. I used 15 bags to start the bed and I don't think I'll need more than 1, maybe occasionally 2 per week to maintain it.
 
Thanks so much for your comments - Digitalangel and Trouble - sounds just perfect!
Thanks so much Slinky Unicorn - will do a search and see what happens. x Fairly new on here - dont even know how to put on a picture LOL no very computer minded at the best of time but will attempt to search hee hee x
 
I am considering ordering 100 bags at £256 but since this is a big layout would like to know more about them from people who use them that's not a bad price at all... just make sure they're good quality
Do you find them easy to use? yes, incredibly
Does it take a while to get used to them? a short while, but not long
Does the wee clump up so easier to remove than with shavings? yes, but we deep litter, so only take out the soggy bits as they need it.
How many would I need initially to make up a normal stable size bed which has rubber matting? we use 10 dry bags, and 2 soaked in a wheelbarrow with half a bucket of water to set up a bed from scratch
How many bags do you use a week? 2x 10kg bags a week per stable on average
Companies that you use? Corley Biowood this year, and PLQ last year. Service was better from Corley, but they were a fraction more expensive
 
Do you find them easy to use? yes
Does it take a while to get used to them? yes
Does the wee clump up so easier to remove than with shavings? yeah sort of/same
How many would I need initially to make up a normal stable size bed which has rubber matting? 10/12 depends on how big you want the bed
How many bags do you use a week? when we had him on them i think just 1/2
Companies that you use? just some random cheap local one ahha
 
O thanks so much Trouble - had a look and def will be purchasing them, done quote with White horse and Liverpool... white horse are cheaper at the moment though! Economy pellets v premier tho??? Wonder if the economy ones are less absorbant?!
 
Just to add - I bought the value ones because I wante to start off at the lowest price I could....I will be buying premium in future once this pallet has run out - not that there is anything wrong with the value, very happy with them, but apparentlt the premium are even more absorbant.

I reckon now I've got the bed started, this pallet will last me the rest of this winter, and as ong as I don't throw it all away (I won't) the 1 pallet should last my 2 all of next winter.
 
i like yourself decided to try wood pellets - i made the mistake of ordering a lot! (think it was 80 bags?) anyway - i hated them and was left stuck having to use them up - i danced around the yard in joy when i used the last bag and emptied my stables! i tried them with 3 different horses who all have their own unique toilet habits and it was semi ok with one of the broodmares with no rubber mats underneath.

I am now back to full on shavings beds, big banks etc and i am loving being back on shavings! i also think the horses are liking it considering the amount they are getting in their manes and tails!
 
I have used wood pellets for a couple of years. Loved them. I have recently moved to grass livery so have no need for the 40 bags I had left.
Word of mouth and they were sold within a week. Could have sold them several times over. So if you do order a lot and find you don't like them chances are you will be able to rehome them easily.
 
I'm thinking of changing to pellets, has anyone got them off Liverpool Wood Pellets? if so what is there service like with regards to delivery etc? thanks xx
 
ruby1512 said:
I'm thinking of changing to pellets, has anyone got them off Liverpool Wood Pellets? if so what is there service like with regards to delivery etc? thanks xx
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I used them as they were the cheapest including delivery great service will be buying the next lot from them

I mix mine with Fennington fibres which makes the bed nice and soft - total convert!!
 
Liverpool wood pellets are cheaper but allow 7 - 10 days for delivery. With rubber matting I only use two bags to start a bed but I take out all the wee and poo every day. I wouldn't want to used them without mats as I think you would need around 15 bags to start with. I use the 15 kg bags and soak them in a wheel barrow before use. Main draw back is that they freeze if the weather is really cold. I prefer megazorb as it is even easier to use.
 
Topstripe said:
Thanks so much for all your responses. I think I will try them and get 100 bags - will price up Liverpools against White Horse I think and go from there.

Thanks so much again!
You have all been a great help
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i must admit i got mine from white horse. from reading up on them they are not the best which may be why i hated them. I cant fault the service though.
 
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