~ Should a wood pellet bed always be damp? ~

[shiresrus123]

been playing with a sample of wood pellets, added water, but hours later its still damp to the touch

no excess water though at all

so in the big scheme of things, would the bed be damp to the touch or did i put too much water in?

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Never tried it, but from research I gather it is supposed to be dry...

 

[dwi]

I'd say you touched it too early or you put too much in. I deep litter D on wood pellets in winter and her bed isn't ever damp.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

You have probably added a bit to much water - it is trial and error to get it right when you first start using them. My boy - who is very messy in his bed always has a slightly damp bed due to the amount of partying he does in it!! Still its better than stinky straw and he survived this winter ok and will be going back on them - straw used to take me 3 or 4 wheel barrows a day and nearly an hour to muck out!! on the pellets it takes about 10 mins and its a half a wheelbarrow full.

 

[shiresrus123]

oh good ok, im glad about that as wasnt too happy if it was meant to be this damp lol, typical, thanks

 

[Chico Mio]

I am a non conformist with wood pellets. I don't 'activate' them with water at all, but I understand you just need just a little to start breaking them up. There is no point in saturating them with water as they will be unable to soak up anything else.

 

[Ziggy_]

ChicoMio how do you find they work without adding water? I'm planning to mix mine with shavings and don't really want to sprinkle with water - my mare practically floods the stable every night anyway, she needs all the absorbancy she can get!

 

[dwi]

If you're going to mix them with shavings I wouldn't add any water. The only reason to add water is so that it makes a "bed" rather than a woody mound.

 

[Ziggy_]

Cool, thanks

 

[Natch]

We also just add unsoaked pellets to our existing beds

 

[saddlesore]

It should be a bit damp. If you read the various manufacturers websites they tell you how best to manage th bed and that when you have it 'right' it will always be a little damp

Given how much my boy pees we have it 'right' all of the time

 

[Bosworth]

I never ad water to my wood pellets except when making a new bed for the first time. One bag in an established bed the big wet patches removed daily and the bed stays dry and good