WBGG
Well-Known Member
Very thick! Like about a foot deep in straw with big banks. But I only have to top up with fresh about once a week because it's so dry. Will try to get a picture to post next time I'm at the yard.
What bedding should i use form my wet and messy horse
- Thread starter AnnaPK
- Start date
WBGG
Well-Known Member
WBGG
Well-Known Member
Comfy girl!!
Sussexbythesea
Well-Known Member
I usually buy by the pallet and bought some back in the summer from White Horse Energy as looked a good price they were £355 for 65 bags at approx £5.46 a bag. They were around the £3.50 mark in previous years especially if you bought in the summer.
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
Just had a look and the £355 pallet is 50 bags so £7.10 though out of stock anyway.
I've tried a few cheaper options in the past and again when prices went up last year and wasn't impressed hence moving to straw.
It's difficult to compare sizes as snowflake sell by volume and others by weight, but some were definitely smaller bags and not very good. Luckily I'd only bought a few bags, I wouldn't risk a pallet without being sure of the quality.
I keep coming back to snowflake or aquamax.
Sussexbythesea
Well-Known Member
They were 65 bags of unbranded for £355 back in the summer. They constantly change the pallet size and pricing. They poo and pee on it so I’m not massively bothered as long as it’s not from recycled wood.
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spotty_pony2
Well-Known Member
This! It’s the perfect compromise. Lovely deep and warm straw bed but the pellets absorb the wet keeping the top layer dry and then I just did them out and start them again roughly every two weeks. Keeps the smell of ammonia away too and I can muck out and not even smell afterwards!
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
I'm comparing prices to now as I bought Snowflake last week and today it's 50 for £355 though out of stock.
I focus on how many I use per month and some cheaoer brands have worked out more as they didn't go far or absorb
I see you're paying vat at the domestic fuel rate not animal bedding rate. Do they ask when you order? Years ago when I bought some online from somewhere else, I had to tick a box to say what I was going to use it for
Sussexbythesea
Well-Known Member
I think they used to have a tick box but I think I ordered over the phone the last few times as I had problems with the online order’s almost getting delivered to my billing address (home) instead of my delivery address (stables) and not getting a confirmation of my order details. I only managed to avert this because the local delivery company is run by someone I know.
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
Does anyone use powdered stable disinfectants to eliminate ammonia smells. I use chopped cardboard in a very large box for a horse with sensitive breathing. Fully cleaned daily but the cardboard, in this damp weather, picks up a definite ammonia smell which does bother the mare.
No dust levels which is needed, but ammonia is a problematic. I’m thinking of using bedmax and removing the cardboard through the winter months. There is no ammonia smell in warmer months as the cardboard seems to stay dry.
I did try wood pellets under the cardboard but they produced dust. Aubiouse was also too dusty when used alone, I haven’t tried it under the cardboard.
she needs no dust and no ammonia. Any thoughts gratefully received.
No dust levels which is needed, but ammonia is a problematic. I’m thinking of using bedmax and removing the cardboard through the winter months. There is no ammonia smell in warmer months as the cardboard seems to stay dry.
I did try wood pellets under the cardboard but they produced dust. Aubiouse was also too dusty when used alone, I haven’t tried it under the cardboard.
she needs no dust and no ammonia. Any thoughts gratefully received.
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
When I've had real piggy horses I've actually gone for straw. I find it wont mix in as badly but more so that its cheap and easy to just take loads out and put loads back in so keeping the bed as clean as possible without bankrupting yourself, especially as bedding costs are so high now.
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
Unfortunately straw round here has gone up and they are struggling to get it after a bad harvest. I did the maths and swapped back to wood pellets.
thommackintosh
Well-Known Member
Yep - In the past I've used Equimin's Stable Fresh which worked well. Just now (for cost saving) during the day when the beds are up, and the floors are bare while the horse is out, I give the mats a quick spray with diluted Zoflora.
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
I use hunter or mega spread shavings and I put wood pellets where they wee on the floor before laying the bed, it works really well but you need a good thick bed so it doesn't soak through so I don't take the wet out everyday.
But if mine were in overnight every night I would probably take wet out twice a week.
But if mine were in overnight every night I would probably take wet out twice a week.
Dam1
Well-Known Member
Hi
I use Green Gloop diluted in a spray bottle and it really clears the ammonia smell. Have two horses on same regime - shavings over wood pellets - one doesn't smell at all and the other has a real distinct ammonia smell. Have tried the powder disinfectant which was a waste of time for mine but the green gloop seems to be a lot more effective. I also spray the wood pellets (only in the wee spots) and this also seems to help.
IrishMilo
Well-Known Member
I have a very wet, dirty horse who poos and then walks it into the bed everywhere. On Bedmax recently I was using a bag a day. Pellets were quite good but don't give a very soft feel. I've just moved back to softchip and it's great. It's much more dense than most other bedding so I can just skim the top for poo and take out the wet every few days.
SDMabel
Well-Known Member
My grotty horrible stinky (but well loved ) mare is on Sawdust from the sawmill i work at.
I get it for free but we do sell it for £10 a builders bulk bag which is a bargain.
It's incredibly absorbent , really easy to take the mulched out poo from and instantly soaks up any wee.
Friends at the yard put it under their straw bed to asorb any smells for their gelding.
It's fab stuff... previously used wood pellets and bedmax but it was costing me a fortune.
I get it for free but we do sell it for £10 a builders bulk bag which is a bargain.
It's incredibly absorbent , really easy to take the mulched out poo from and instantly soaks up any wee.
Friends at the yard put it under their straw bed to asorb any smells for their gelding.
It's fab stuff... previously used wood pellets and bedmax but it was costing me a fortune.
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
Wow! I mean i know its gone up. OH was saying last night he's selling the same size bales that sold for £35 last year for £75 this year. I know they chopped a lot of it back into the field behind the combines.
I'd still have imagined it to be the cheapest option though! So glad i don't have to pay.....
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
I was chatting last night to a friend about trying this. I have one wet smelly pony and thought about trying sawmill type shavings under his bed. I have seen them locally for £2 a big bag.
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
Big bales may still work out a bit cheaper but we need small bales for storage reasons and they're £3.50 - £4. And the quality isn't great and bales seem to be shrinking.
Plus if it's short in November what will it be like in Feb.
SDMabel
Well-Known Member
We do two types, shavings from items that have been planed or actual sawdust from the big saw as it's cutting.
I find the sawdust is 100x better at absorbing but all is so much cheaper than the stuff you buy in shops
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
I'm going to give it a try. Pony in question never digs or disturbs his bed so it should stay as a under layer.
Thanks
CarolineandLouis
Member
I'm jumping on this as I'm having a bit of a struggle with my wet/messy gelding and it's our first winter (assisted) DIY.
I bought a pallet (30x20kg) of Heavenly bedding (chopped rape straw/shavings mix) which worked out about £5.70/bale once I'd paid for the diesel to collect.
I think I might not have started with enough bedding when they came in at night for the winter, and now he's had a horrendous case of mud fever so has been in for 2 weeks - when he does go out I may well be limiting it to up to 4-5 hours so his legs have time to dry before I get there in the evening. He's 17hh, his stable is about 16x10 and in a corner so I've been leaving the third by the door clear for sweeping and I keep a tack box in there too.
Right now I can't afford to get any more bedding to add in for absorbancy/smell control due to vets bills. He buries his poo whether by intent or just because he's been moving around a lot while stuck in for 24hrs, am I best to really deep litter and take the wet out once a week?
I bought a pallet (30x20kg) of Heavenly bedding (chopped rape straw/shavings mix) which worked out about £5.70/bale once I'd paid for the diesel to collect.
I think I might not have started with enough bedding when they came in at night for the winter, and now he's had a horrendous case of mud fever so has been in for 2 weeks - when he does go out I may well be limiting it to up to 4-5 hours so his legs have time to dry before I get there in the evening. He's 17hh, his stable is about 16x10 and in a corner so I've been leaving the third by the door clear for sweeping and I keep a tack box in there too.
Right now I can't afford to get any more bedding to add in for absorbancy/smell control due to vets bills. He buries his poo whether by intent or just because he's been moving around a lot while stuck in for 24hrs, am I best to really deep litter and take the wet out once a week?