Strawmax/straw pellets - am I doing it wrong?

[tdr3]

Started using Strawmax for my one horse, having previously only used straw. I’ve read everywhere that you top up with 1 or 2 bags a week but I seem to be using 2 minimum. He’s not particularly messy or wet, in a standard size stable and tends to be out for a few hours a day. I skip out at night then in the morning take the poo off the top, bank up and scrape back round the wet patches and take them out every day. Wet patches tend to come to the top so not wasting of clean from the top of the wet patches.

Am I mucking out wrong? Is 1 or 2 bags just being tight?

TIA!

 

[FitzyFitz]

I found I used ~2 a week if I actually had a horse in overnight with a proper bed (dark hours in winter, so well over half the day) I do have a slightly leaky stable though! I put the new pellets in dry at the bottom of the bed after mucking out then fluffed the whole lot up the next day.

 

[kerrieberry2]

when you say he's out a few hours a day? how many hours? I used to use 2 bags a week for a horse that was only stabled overnight. so if yours is in for something like 20 hours a day then you will defo need more

 

[scats]

I use concord straw pellets and I try and leave the bed as undisturbed as possible. Take off poo and only take the wet off that comes to the top. I try not to dig down and disturb the bottom layer at all.

Mine is out 8 hours a day and has 2 bags a week (the pony only needs 1). If they were in more during the day, I’d probably need another bag.

I wet mine before putting it down. I tip a bag into a wheelie in the morning and soak it so that you can just about see the water starting to come up and cover the pellets. I then wheel it into my stable and leave it for the day.
When I get back later, I just tip it on top of the bed and lay it down.

 

[tdr3]

Out for about 3 hours a day at the moment (fields sitting a bit wet) plus a 45min ride. Out all day when the field dries out

when you say he's out a few hours a day? how many hours? I used to use 2 bags a week for a horse that was only stabled overnight. so if yours is in for something like 20 hours a day then you will defo need more

 

[tdr3]

I found I used ~2 a week if I actually had a horse in overnight with a proper bed (dark hours in winter, so well over half the day) I do have a slightly leaky stable though! I put the new pellets in dry at the bottom of the bed after mucking out then fluffed the whole lot up the next day.

I’ve just tried a bag dry in the bottom so we shall see if it helps!

I don’t mind using more bags a week as would much rather him have a cosy bed but just wanted to see if I was doing something wrong as it’s new to me

 

[Squeak]

I use concord straw pellets and I try and leave the bed as undisturbed as possible. Take off poo and only take the wet off that comes to the top. I try not to dig down and disturb the bottom layer at all.

This makes it much easier and uses less bedding. I used to do the same as you but it makes the bed more stable and so easier to muck out and comfier for them to lie on if you only take out the wet when it comes through. The dry bedding then goes in the hole dug out and then the rest scattered over the bed to keep it dry and fluffy for easily falling through the fork.

 

[ihatework]

I’d expect to use 2-3 a week if you only have 3hr/day turnout.

Dont take out all the wet every day, this sounds really grim but you need to leave a base of wet in and it kind of goes red/pink before you dig bits out.

Start with a deepish bed, only take a bit of wet that comes to the top out and cover the rest with dry. When you do dig an area, fill with dry pellets.

 

[tdr3]

I’ll give leaving the wet in a go - I find it is coming to the top but I’ll leave it until it’s more obvious!

I’d expect to use 2-3 a week if you only have 3hr/day turnout.

Dont take out all the wet every day, this sounds really grim but you need to leave a base of wet in and it kind of goes red/pink before you dig bits out.

Start with a deepish bed, only take a bit of wet that comes to the top out and cover the rest with dry. When you do dig an area, fill with dry pellets.

Does it make the stable/him (he loves laying down) stink out of interest?

 

[ihatework]

I’ll give leaving the wet in a go - I find it is coming to the top but I’ll leave it until it’s more obvious!


Does it make the stable/him (he loves laying down) stink out of interest?

Not if deep enough that you have a dry top layer

(But it will smell when you dig, so do that while horse is in field to avoid the ammonia)

 

[HopOnTrot]

If he’s in the stable for 21 hours that’s probably why you are using slightly more, 12 hours in would be a full night and you’re doing another 9 on top, plus I find if they’re in during the day they move about more and drink/wee/poo more.

 

[tdr3]

He’ll be out again more after a few more days rain-free don’t mind putting the extra bags in at all but just wondered what was normal for other users! Thanks the advice everyone, good things to go and try!

 

[poiuytrewq]

I found I used lots more than they said and even then the bed seemed to get smaller and darker daily.
I hated them!

 

[scats]

I found I used lots more than they said and even then the bed seemed to get smaller and darker daily.
I hated them!

Getting used to a darker bed has been hard, but the ease of mucking out for me has outweighed that. Millie can’t bury her poo in it so it makes my life 100 times easier.

I do miss a nice white bed though!

 

[FitzyFitz]

The dark bed took some getting used to. Worth it for the ease of mucking out and fast rotting muckheap though.
I take out poo and any wet thats visible on the top every day, then usually every few days I dig the whole lot up, sift it through my fork into a big heap at the empty front of the stable, spread out a new bag of dry pellets on the floor (more in the wet spot if it's always the same place) then re lay the bed over the top, always came out twice as fluffy as when I started. I never bothered pre-soaking pellets except if i was laying a completely new bed from scratch. I have a shavings fork with high sides (got it from kramer) that makes it super fast to sieve through the bed without dropping everything back in.