Which wood is suitable for bedding...

[holeymoley]

I'm lucky enough to work in an estate with a lot of woodland. After the storm last week, a lot of trees have unfortunately fallen and require chipping. I've been kindly offered to take any sawdust, however I'm not that clued up on trees and what wood is an isn't suitable for bedding. I know red woods are a complete no-go. Would Birch be suitable?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Soft wood is best, so pine and similar woods.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Do you have any estate workers who could help you to sort it? I was always warned to stay away from hardwoods, but not entirely sure if this applies to English hardwood or the more exotic iroko and the like.

 

[holeymoley]

Do you have any estate workers who could help you to sort it? I was always warned to stay away from hardwoods, but not entirely sure if this applies to English hardwood or the more exotic iroko and the like.

They’re not too sure either for horses. A google search suggests softwoods but then there are certain ones advised against due to breathing issues.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

They’re not too sure either for horses. A google search suggests softwoods but then there are certain ones advised against due to breathing issues.

Hardwoods are likely to cause breathing issues. Deciduous trees are hardwood. Conifers are soft wood, as a rule of thumb.

 

[sport horse]

Avoid yew.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I visit a guy who cuts down trees & saws & slices them up for log burners. I have a couple of bags of sawdust from him when I need it. It's a little heavier than sawdust from a wood yard but it's great for horse bedding. I can't be 100% sure exactly what trees it's come from. I have used sawdust from this source for a long time. I have 2 horses, neither has breathing issues and they are 23 & 27 years old. They used to compete show jumping & dressage but now they hack out regularly & the eldest still show jumps in our arena, The jumps are no where near the height he used to compete at but he still enjoys doing it. His ears prick up as soon as he sees his 'toys' are out for him to play with. My wife & I have been around horses most of our lives, I'm in my 70's. I seriously believe that some horse owners worry over so many things & are not happy unless they have something more to worry about with their. Horses. Oh, I pay £15 per ton builders bag of shavings. I phone him, he tells me when to come & I collect. It's a good relationship with the 'producer'.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Ex OH was a joiner, and if he was asked to work with hardwood to make window frames or something, then it was full face mask with breathing filter and goggles. He always said it was nasty stuff, and he had been taught not to breathe in the dust.

 

[holeymoley]

Thanks guys it seems to be Birch trees and a large Lime tree we have that he's mentioned. I'm not sure the others. I don't think the lime tree is any good, but the birch is a possibility.