Straw pellet users

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve just taken delivery of a half pallet of straw pellets from Concorde equestrian.
I’ve used wood pellets before and once tried very cheap rubbish straw pellets which I hated and lasted a week if that.
I watered the last ones as per wood pellets but notice on the Concorde bags adding water is not mentioned?
It says add 6/7 bags for a 12x12 box and the horses hooves will break it down.
So I just empty them onto the floor and leave them as pellets?
I cant imagine that being a great bed ?‍♀
Hints and tips from users please?

 

[MuddyMonster]

I've not used straw pellets but I didnt routinely add water to wood pellets, so sure you'd be fine doing the same with straw.

 

[shortstuff99]

I use straw pellets (underneath beddown) and you don't need to water them, once they wee on it, it crumbles down and forms a layer. I think they're really good and really help saves bedding.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ok, no water then! That makes it easy topping up.
I’m just thinking at first isn’t it going to be just really loose and rolling round everywhere?
Also 6/7 bags sounds like it’s barely going to cover the floor even.

 

[oldie48]

I use straw pellets and with a fresh bed you do need to water them. When I add them to an established bed, I often put them initially down the sides so they absorb some moisture from the bed before adding them in or I put them deep into the bed and cover them with the existing bed that has broken down.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I use straw pellets and with a fresh bed you do need to water them. When I add them to an established bed, I often put them initially down the sides so they absorb some moisture from the bed before adding them in or I put them deep into the bed and cover them with the existing bed that has broken down.

That sounds more realistic I feel. I’m happy to add dry but it was the initial set up I can’t quite get my head round!

 

[atropa]

Yes I probably would at least sprinkle them a little with water if setting up a fresh bed then add future pellets dry underneath, or you could add the pellets as a base layer dry with a layer of shavings or rape straw over the top until the bed gets started?

 

[Nicnac]

I started using Concorde about 4 weeks ago and like you, first thought was weird! I love them. The horse's hooves break them down and they end up a bit like sand.
I didn't want wood pellets due to the faff of watering them and taking ages to break down.

I kept a small shavings bed and mixed the straw pellets in where he's very wet and only took wet out once a week. So quick to muck out. Now have a pure pellet bed and it's almost sand like. It's quite a thin bed but really springy. Muck heap is so much smaller - can muck out 3 into one wheelbarrow. Am converted.

 

[willowblack]

All of ours are on Concord it’s fab! You don’t have to water them it’s up to you. You will find that they breakdown quite quickly anyway. You don’t need to water top ups either.

I used about 10 bags (big stables) when I started mine and didn’t need to top up for ages.

you will be amazed at how quickly the bed seems to expand!

if you have any questions message them, they are really helpful.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

Are the concord pellets heavy to muck out? I liked wood pellets to skip out but the wet weighed a ton

 

[willowblack]

Are the concord pellets heavy to muck out? I liked wood pellets to skip out but the wet weighed a ton

No, not at all. I find that any wee stays fairly confined so you just have to take a tiny bit out and rake over.

 

[willowblack]

No, not at all. I find that any wee stays fairly confined so you just have to take a tiny bit out and rake over.

 

[Cherryblossom]

Are you all using the pellets on their own? I’ve currently got wood pellets with straw on top, but am thinking of making the move to straw as it composts better. I can only get it delivered by the tonne, so have been delaying, but the only bad things I read about straw pellets is that the bed looks dark, so I guess I should just bite the bullet.

 

[oldie48]

The beds are quite dark but tbh it really doesn't matter. I think they are better for the environment, not acidic like wood pellets and break down better.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

The bed us darker than with wood pellets or wood shavings, but honestly, I'm not picky about looks when I know the bed is dry. My horse has allergies and doesn't do well ok straw typically, or fine shavings, but does fine with straw or linseed straw pellets.

At the yard, they never water them and this works out fine. Even when a stall emptied completely and new pellets put in. They break down quite quickly. No watering for a top up. They arrive in bulk, not in individual bags here, but initially they took the old bedding out and replaced it with pellets, didn't seem like so much, but a few days later it was a really deep bed and it didn't need any pellets to be added for what felt like weeks.

 

[Nicnac]

They are dark which gets some getting used to after Hunter's shavings but so much cheaper! Compost well and yes, my horse is grey so has a darker coat until groomed but the bed brushes out easily and no shavings in mane and tail.

When we turn out in the morning the elderly shetland goes to roll in one of the stables - she always chooses the straw pellet beds to roll in vs. the shavings one. As she's old and seriously crock I can only surmise that she finds it softer and springier to roll in vs. shavings.

 

[HeyMich]

Joining in the discussion a bit late, sorry. I'm considering changing from shavings to these straw pellets for my beasts, all the info and reviews on here have been so helpful, thank you HHO!

I have a couple of questions...
1 - do they smell like traditional straw bedding? I really can't stand the straw/horse pee smell, so if they do, then I'm going to have to rethink.
2 - my beasts all live out 24/7 but come in occasionally for riding/farrier/miserable weather. Some weeks, the stables are only used for literally a couple of hours max, especially in the summer when we tend to tie them up outside the stables anyway. Will the straw pellets stay ok for weeks at a time not being used, or will they break down/spoil?
3 - do the horses ever eat the pellets? My idiot-horse probably would, but then she eats shavings too! I can just image the straw pellets expanding in her stomach and having to call the emergency vet for goodness knows what damage she will have done to herself... Gah!

Thanks x

 

[Nicnac]

Joining in the discussion a bit late, sorry. I'm considering changing from shavings to these straw pellets for my beasts, all the info and reviews on here have been so helpful, thank you HHO!

I have a couple of questions...
1 - do they smell like traditional straw bedding? I really can't stand the straw/horse pee smell, so if they do, then I'm going to have to rethink.
2 - my beasts all live out 24/7 but come in occasionally for riding/farrier/miserable weather. Some weeks, the stables are only used for literally a couple of hours max, especially in the summer when we tend to tie them up outside the stables anyway. Will the straw pellets stay ok for weeks at a time not being used, or will they break down/spoil?
3 - do the horses ever eat the pellets? My idiot-horse probably would, but then she eats shavings too! I can just image the straw pellets expanding in her stomach and having to call the emergency vet for goodness knows what damage she will have done to herself... Gah!

Thanks x

1. No they don't smell at all (and my gelding was stinky on shavings).
2. They need to be used to break down by horses walking on them or peeing/pooing. If not used will stay as pellets. You can leave them down without them going 'off'.
3. I have the greediest horse I've ever known and he didn't eat them (which was one of my concerns). Even the shitland who is equally as greedy doesn't eat them.

 

[chaps89]

One of their sponsored riders did a good video on setting up a bed/using them.
I think Leo Walker posted it on a thread on here at some point

 

[HeyMich]

1. No they don't smell at all (and my gelding was stinky on shavings).
2. They need to be used to break down by horses walking on them or peeing/pooing. If not used will stay as pellets. You can leave them down without them going 'off'.
3. I have the greediest horse I've ever known and he didn't eat them (which was one of my concerns). Even the shitland who is equally as greedy doesn't eat them.

Brilliant, thank you Nicnac, that's great to hear.

 

[Goldenstar]

Are you all using the pellets on their own? I’ve currently got wood pellets with straw on top, but am thinking of making the move to straw as it composts better. I can only get it delivered by the tonne, so have been delaying, but the only bad things I read about straw pellets is that the bed looks dark, so I guess I should just bite the bullet.

I am using straw pellets with shavings on top with a very wet horse it’s works really well

 

[oldie48]

Fatty will eat the straw pellets so I have to be very careful about not adding too many at a time and ensuring they get mixed into the bed but he would eat his own hoof if he could get it into his mouth!

 

[eggs]

I tried straw pellets (not the Concord ones though) a few years ago. The horses I initially trialled them with did not eat them so I then put them in for the other horses and two of them started to eat them straight away so I had to move them out of their stables until I had replaced their bed with wood pellets which they don't try to eat.

The straw ones I had had quite a strong smell but didn't smell of straw.