wood pellets for bedding, reviews please!

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phoenix26

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Im thinking of trying my two horses on the wood pellets that swell up as they are heaps cheaper than shavings, miscanthus and straw, can anyone shead any light on how they found them, deep littered or fully mucked out, any reviews welcomed! Thanks
 
Have tried several brands from very expensive to cheap as chips and IMHO, by far the most superior are FiveStar Professional- check their web site for how to use and do what they say!

Since having my bog-monster on these I'm saving about £20 a WEEK - love them!!
 
We used to use them but had to stop due to the beds just being far too dusty, we struggled to stay in there for long ourselves, poor horses had very runny eyes and noses and one developed a very nasty cough. We changed from "budget" to the "posher" wood pellets and tried different brands, and it made very little difference - and we did follow the instructions properly & water the beds down when required! A shame as they were very very absorbant and so cost effective. A lot of people don't seem to find this a problem though, not sure whether we just have very box-walky horses / a very dry environment compared to others.
 
I'm trialling using them under my shavings. Loving them. I have had a full pellet bedding in the past and although I found it lovely for dryness and ease of mucking out I missed making a nice fluffy bed - but that is my preference not necessary for my boy.
 
I found them dirty looking and really heavy to work with. I can't see how they would be comfy for a horse either. I think if you want to use them then your need to use them with rubber matting and only have a thin layer.
 
Hated them! They smell, they're dusty if they dry out. I've one clean horse and one filthy and I just didn't get them. I'm very particular when it comes to mucking out and I've tried everything! Always go back to shavings euro v shavings are my favourite at the moment!
 
Five star premium every time, I've tried a pallet of LWP and a pallet of Verdo, went through loads, was soggy etc until I swapped to Five star. I now use 2 bags a week on the wettest horse, I bag for average horse and the ponies are down to 1/2 bag each, I bought the more expensive ones but use 1/2 the amount so I'm saving money :-)
 
I used them last summer for the day beds, but once winter started I gave up and went back to straw (which the horses much prefer). After using an entire pallet in a month on 6 horses, I decided they were not economically viable for me.
 
I used them this winter under the straw. I used it to deep litter the bed and have found them very good. When i took all the wet bedding out despite being in for about 2 months it didn't smell at all which i thought they would. Despite being in for so long there was still some dry bedding underneath so they are very absorbant. I used them on my biggest stable which had a 13.2hh and a 14.2hh in together so i was quite impressed with them. Don't think i would use them on their own though, not because i don't like them but because i like to see big fluffy straw beds.
 
I hate them on their own.
Heavy, dirty and dusty.

But they are very useful as a base layer under either straw or shavings in a semi-deep litter management system
 
Love them but I think they need a bit of maintenance and yes, the wet bits are damned heavy. I found very little wastage, though, cheaper than shavings, better for fat boy cob. It's better to get a pallet but you need decent storage. I've caved for now and have one back to shredded shavings for ease while I'm not there. I prefer them mixed with shavings, lasts longer and not so heavy to muck out.

IMAG0797.jpg


This is a full muck out, no bedding wasted and very little to put on the muck heap. :)
IMAG0792.jpg
 
Love them have 2 horses on them one messy and one very wet. Can get dusty but can be managed easily.
Only takes me ten min to do both horses and one wheelbarrow loads then done.
Go through one bag a week so economical. Use five star bedding
 
I switched about 3 weeks ago, now, from straw. I have two ponies sharing a stable so it was difficult with straw, as they walk around each other and bury the poos. I've knocked about 10 min off mucking out time and don't smell after doing it. We use five star and it's not dusty. I sneeze badly in dusty places and Henry coughs if he's on dusty hay, but nothing being bedded on these. It costs me more, but I can semi deep litter, now which I found impossible on straw.

Hmmm just read mud monkey's post and think I need to work on my speed, lol!
 
Blue Ribbon for me, quick delivery, the guy even helped me unload from the pallet into the shed :) fast soaking and smells great. I have gone up to 6 weeks deep littering on them on a pig of a horse, 2 of those weeks were box rest 24/7 and they still looked as fresh as they did when I put the bed down to start with!
 
Love them and would never go back to straw or shavings.

I muck out as I would on any other bedding and it takes no time at all. Use 1-2 bags per week and bed is 3-4 inches deep (on rubber matting too). I share a pallet with two others so the cost is more manageable. Currently using LWP but have had 5 star and Verdo in the past. Find them all very similar.
 
Much prefer them to anything else, quick and easy to do, and cheaper than anything else I've tried.
I use verdo on full rubber mats and I add some shavings every now and then to keep the bed a bit lighter and water a bit when necessary if it gets a bit dry.
 
Absolutely detest them with a passion - used to work on a yard which had a few horses on them. They looked dreadful, the wet was heavy and just so so dusty. Wouldn't even consider them now.
 
One of the HHOer has kindly written a comparative review on my website. I personally always use LWP if using pellets although for the summer have just switched back to shavings.


www.equiviews.co.uk. Will take you to the website where you can search for the review. I think a while back (a couple of years) someone also did a financial comparison of all the brands on here...
 
I only like them to use as a base where they wee. Excellent for that!!!! Don't like a full bed

Using them as above Ive gone from using 3 or 4 bales if shavings a week to 1 shavings 1 bag pellets and a much drier bed

I put a very thin layer of not so nice shavings, then sprinkle with pellets and cover with nice shavings. If I dont cover them he will eat them :(:(
 
soulfull said:
I only like them to use as a base where they wee. Excellent for that!!!! Don't like a full bed

Using them as above Ive gone from using 3 or 4 bales if shavings a week to 1 shavings 1 bag pellets and a much drier bed

I put a very thin layer of not so nice shavings, then sprinkle with pellets and cover with nice shavings. If I dont cover them he will eat them :(:(
Click to expand...

That's how I'm working them.
 
I've deep littered on it on good rubber mats since the snow days and running out of straw.

I have a very wet and dirty mare, I used to take out three barrow loads of sodden straw. Ive found it to be the best way to manage the pellets and she seems to like it. Although it certainly doesn't look like it is, it is a warm bed.

I use 2 bags a week. I rake in new pellets unsoaked.
When I've finished the bed looks immaculate and doesn't smell at all, unlike the straw used to.

I love the look of other bedding I have to admit and often have to remind myself of what it would look like in the moorings. It takes about a nano second!;)
 
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