What bedding?

FlyingCircus

FlyingCircus

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Hi all!

I'm trying to get organised for bringing in overnight next month and one thing I've been procrastinating about is bedding...

Ideally need to cover the below, if anyone has any suggestions I'd be super grateful:

- Cope with damp/leaky roof (i.e not shavings as they aren't absorbent enough)
- Not going to break the bank (I have 4 beds to do)
- Easy to muck out a box walker


I'm umming and arring between rape straw type Vs wood pellets...unsure!!
 
I've used both wood and straw pellets.
Technically straw pellets are slightly more absorbent but does depend on brand.
Straw pellets tend to be darker.
But the big thing to watch for is that some horses will eat the straw pellets which can lead to choke or colic. My mare started eating them even though they were under her shavings.

If you have a leaky roof and need to watch the £££, what about pellets under straw?
 
I've never used straw pellets and only used wood pellets a very long time ago but my first thought would be whether anything could be done to make the roof less leaky? Even the world's best breeding will become a soggy mess if it's being constantly leaked onto.
 
Straw pellets definitely, Concord are amazing value and they deliver from 10 bags upwards if you wanted to try rather than committing to a whole pallet. They have great social media which shows how to use it etc.

If you just can’t get your head around them then I’d definitely recommend miscanthus bedding, I’ve got Burly Bed and really like it, it is more absorbent than shavings and I tend to dig out the wee every 2-3 days (some leave it longer) but it makes a nice fluffy bed.

Either of those would be my bed, aubiose is just too expensive in my book for 4!
 
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I would say wood pellet base with either straw or shavings on top. However if the roof leaks any bed will get wet. Can you do anything about leaky roof? even fix a tarp over it as a temp solution?
White horse code for 5% off for new customers if it helps if you go for wood pellets Macchr21736
 
I'd go for straw pellets. I found that they compacted down to a less solid bed than wood pellets when I used the two and they also are better for the muck heap. I've personally never had a problem with horses eating pellets, they grab a mouthful initially but spit them out pretty quickly and don't try again.
 
Straw pellets are quickly becoming my best friend (and this is coming from someone who loves to have big fluffy white as possible beds!).

I'm finding they're really absorbent, the wee stays where it is supposed to, the bed isn't 100% solid so the horses still enjoy lying down on it and also mucking out is a lot easier as you just scoop the poop from the top and take out any wet once a week, top up a bag or two and you're ready to go.

I have two rather piggy horses and they don't try and eat it - but I do make sure to mix the old with the new to deter them, so not sure if that makes a difference or not.

The only downside (and this is my personal downside) is that the straw pellet beds don't look as pretty as the traditional shavings beds etc, but I am tempted to pop maybe a bale or two of shavings on top to fool my eyes into thinking it looks pretty aha 😅
 
Thanks everyone! Seems like straw pellets are worth a shot.

The roof is a pain, it's a super tall barn so difficult to get up to the roof and can't go on top of the roof as would 100% fall through 🙈 Realistically, it needs replacing but that won't be this winter or next so will have to make do!
 
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