Woodpellet bedding - What am I doing wrong?

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cronkmooar

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I put down pellet bedding about a week ago followed instructions with wetting and have about 2/3rds sawdust stuff and 1/3 pellets.

But I'm finding it really dusty - don't see dust when mucking out but its making me feel really ill! when I'm finished i'm covered in a thin layer of dust horses faces look the same after being in at night - one also seems to be starting with a watery eye.

When I brush the bed back after mucking out the rubber mats are covered in dust that doesn't shift fully.

I'm removing the wet every day and putting in a few handfulls of pellets unsoaked as advised. The stuff I am using Brites from Northern Ireland is being sold as both for horse bedding and burning by an independent distributor but on their website they don't mention animal use at all??

Is it me or have I just got pellets that are too dusty for bedding ???

HELP !!!

Also Liverpool pellets - good bad or indifferent ??
 
I live just down the road from where they make Brites! A friend of mine swears by them, but her mare is on rubber mats and only poos/pees right at the back of her stable so easy peasy to do
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I tried them and absolutely loathed the things
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I am back onto shavings, much less dust and less smelly.

You are right, locally they think it is very odd to use Brites for horse bedding and not for sticking in the burner
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so not surprised it isn't on their website.
 
My local feed store sells Brites as horse bedding and I haven't had a problem with it.

I suspect you are removing too much of the wet and then the rest of the bed is too dry. Try leaving in all the wet, apart from any bits that have gotten so wet they have clumped together (you should be able to feel them with your fork, but often they are underneath the rest of the bed, so you will need to dig them out). Then mix the rest in thoroughly.

Also no need to put in new stuff every day. Put half a bag in every three days and when you are due to put in the new stuff make sure you leave more wet in than usual - mix thoroughly!
 
If you are on rubber matting it may help to reduce the amount of bedding you are using.

After mucking out the wet, clumpy bits swirl all the bedding to mix it together. This evens out the moisture content.

I would also just add a bag or a half when needed. It may need dampening with a watering can and then mixing in with the rest of the bed.

I have the opposite problem - I am in a damp climate with two dirty horses so I have a constant battle to keep my beds dry
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My 'back lady' uses them and swears by them but has said when you buy them you buy them 'as fuel for your fire' then you dont pay vat.
 
It just needs more water to swell it before you put it down. I dont use the same make as you but I have absolutely no problem at all with dust with the ones I buy. Mine are made specifically for horse bedding though and if yours are not ie they are made as a fuel pellet then that may be the problem. If its a fuel then dust doesnt really matter.

Dont put pellets down dry when you top up, much better to soak anything you put into the bed first. And dont skimp on it just because you have mats.
 
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