Straw (or wood) pellets under straw

[COldNag]

For years I've used wood pellets (usually on mats), but the eye watering price increases means I've made the move back to straw.

I don't really want to use mats (due to smell) but have been putting down a bag of wood or straw pellets underneath to try to draw away the wet.

I'm wondering whether I'd be better off using a deeper underneath layer, or whether that will be a waste?

For those of you who pellet under straw, what's the optimum amount you'd have underneath? Currently I've got straw pellets as finally got a supply and they are a bit cheaper.

 

[mavandkaz]

I have about a 2 inch layer of pellets under my straw, straight onto concrete. This was about 4-5 bags initially. Then a good thick bed of straw on top.
I then do a full muck out and remove the wet once a week, and top up with dry pellets.
At this time of year it's a bag a week.
I switched to straw pellets a couple of months ago as wood was getting harder to find and too expensive

 

[twiggy2]

I used to get sawdust from a local saw mill for free and put it under a straw bed, it was perfect.

 

[millitiger]

I had mats too but when I had pellets under my straw beds then half a bale a week, put in dry, was perfect.
If I didn't have the mats I would want 2 bales of pellets I think.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I have mats and I just put a thin layer of sawdust underneath them and lift them once a month and renew the sawdust. No smell and hardly any wasted straw

 

[spotty_pony]

I put 2-3 bags down at a time straight onto concrete and only remove them and replace when they are very very wet. I did deep litter the pellets underneath one year which worked very well but it was a pain to remove it all in the spring.

 

[COldNag]

Thank you folks