Soaking wood pellets

[bouncing_ball]

Is there a consensus on whether presoaking wood pellets makes them more absorbent or not?

I’ve had pellet beds for years, always added dry, worked well.

I’m now at a livery where shavings beds used. I add 4 bags of pellets to base once a month. As my horse needs a dry bed for his feet.

Anyone know if best to add dry or wet? Logic says can absorb more from dry but I’ve heard a few people say can absorb more if presoak?

I want the four bags in base to last a month.

Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[ForeverBroke_]

I pre-soak mine.

 

[holeymoley]

I have no idea, surely they'd absorb more if they go in dry?!

I lift the pee and put them in dry at the bottom then cover them up. Next day it's definitely grown! On the odd occasion I partially soak a bag to make the bed fluffy, but I don't feel like I get as much out of them.

I suppose I have read somewhere that you need to soak to 'activate' them. But surely the pee is liquid so it will activate them too?

 

[ITPersonnage]

I used to soak mine to start the bed from scratch, I think its like a new dishcloth, they absorb more when a bit damp. Topping up the bed I used dry, but mine were straw pellets. Probably the same?

 

[zandp]

I used to soak about 3/4 of them when setting a bed up and put the rest in dry and then replace the wet with dry pellets when mucking out. I'm thinking of using them under straw this winter as she's really wet.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I just put them under the straw dry and his wee activates it. They seem to last him longer that way.

 

[Nasicus]

If you've got a good layer of straw or shavings on top of them, no reason you can't use them dry, so long as the horse isn't going to reach them and slip on them.
I use just wood pellets, and whilst the I soak the initial bed and fluff it up, I top up using dry pellets either sprinkled on top, or tipped into a dug out wet patch and covered.
You would never use solely dry pellets to start a new bed, it would be like trying to walk on marbles!

 

[Polos Mum]

I pre soak but that's so they aren't slippy as above. Under deep layer of straw I think thing dry would be best.
Unless you have an angel horse I'm presuming they won't be totally dry for that long anyway !!

 

[Kay Burton]

I usually presoak mine. It helps really, can recommend you to try. I use this tip for long and it works well for me. Think you'll find it useful too.

 

[9tails]

I pre-soak, though I do it overnight and spread them out in a barrow. It breaks down the shiny outer layer and allows far more absorbency. When I haven't pre-soaked, I spend ages picking out dry pellets from the wheelbarrow.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I pre soak in my wheelbarrow. It doesn’t move about so much and is still absorbent. In the summer often too dry and needs damping down with a hose. Also one horse is particularly messy and I find it hard To sift through the pellets and take small bits of poo out without chucking away whole pellets. I’ve tried adding whole pellets to pee patches and covering but not worked that well as he kicks it about.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Hmm thanks. This is to put under a shavings bed, so in theory shouldn’t find whole pellets or mix in poo. But I guess could stick end up mucking out pellets.