Wood pellets v flax for bedding

[TinselPoos]

Anyone had experience of both wood pellets and flax, please? I have two messy mares on deep litter flax, and it's been fantastic. Sooo much better than wood shavings. I notice that wood pellets are about half the cost (if you buy them as fuel!) and wonder whether they are as good as flax. I have heard that wood pellets can be dusty/smelly?

Has anyone tried both and, if so, which one was better?

Thanks

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Having used both, I prefer flax, only because I like to have a decent bed and with the wood pellets you can't really keep a nice thickness in the bed IMO and defo used more than the 1 they reckon you will use per week once you've done the initial bed. liked it at first but stopped liking it the older the bed got, found it got minging, they say not to take out ALL the wet but I just couldn't get on with it.

I wouldn't deep litter either though, my horse has COPD

Mares do seem to be dirtier in the stable though I found, geldings are limited to where they can pee

 

[neen]

Is flax the same as hemp? I have used hemp and now use wood pellets. I got on really well with the hemp at first, and used about 5 or 6 bales a month for one stable, but after I moved yards it went up to 3 bales a week, so I had to stop using it.

I really like the wood pellets -- they stay put well (one of mine flings light beds like shavings all over the place) and keep all the wee in one small spot. I take out all the wet every day and get through about 3 bags per week per stable. I keep quite a deep bed. I haven't found it dusty or smelly at all, but I haven't used it in summer yet. I can imagine it would get smelly if you didn't take out all the wet.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

Wood Pellets would be cheaper, but flax is nicer I think.

Mine are currently on wood pellets. One of my horses does not lay down, and doesn't move around much in his stable, and his wood pellet bed is great, and is very quick to do, and I only need 1 bag a week to top up.

My other horse lays down at night, and his rugs become discusting and even though rubber matting is down, he gets little rubs on his hocks as he's a big, gangly, TB. He has about 3 bags a week to top up. I would ideally like him to be on a nice deep litter bed, but the yard policy is that they're all on the wood pellets.