M&Mfan26
Junior Member
'until lambs become lions '
Posts: 163
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Post by M&Mfan26 on May 7, 2017 21:05:25 GMT
Hi All,
Was just wondering what bedding every one is using and why? are you more concerned about the fluffy look or the dust free, medical,time saving benefits? Also what price do you pay ?
Many Thanks in advance
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Post by Philippa on May 8, 2017 7:16:05 GMT
Hi, mine are on shavings with rubber mats. I put a full bed down with banks. I'm lucky my stables have a natural slope so all wet runs down mats to the back and drains out. I lift my beds every day and leave them up the sides until teatime. I take the bottom of my banks out every so often. I don't do dust so don't expect my ponies to, plus I'm fickle and like fluffy white snowflake shavings beds lol.
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Post by brindlerainbow on May 8, 2017 11:55:30 GMT
Chopped rape straw on top of rubber mats. Very easy to muck out and they don't eat it, the bale is very compressed so when spread about makes a good, deep bed. I pay around £7 a bale, maybe a bit less. I have 2 small ponies who have access to their stables ( and field ) 24/7 and I use 1 bale in each stable every 7 - 10 days
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Post by satchmo on May 8, 2017 12:48:32 GMT
We have just changed over to wood pellets from straw. We use straw all winter as we buy tonnes in for all livestock that's in over winter so it makes sense but now just about everything is out we won't buy any in till September time so had to get an alternative. I love big thick fluffy beds but shavings aren't really practical as we have traditionals with black tails so it takes forever to get them out! My daughters mare is very wet and messy and with straw I had to out the whole bed every four days which was a pain. I have used wood pellets years ago but stopped because I didn't like the colour....fickle I know. Having weighed up all the pros and cons I decided to give them another go and 4 weeks in its working for us. Although bedding them initially was expensive as I like thicker beds it's saved a lot. I would be using at least two bags of shavings a week on two stables or as I said completely rebedding her stable with straw every four days. Mucking out takes literally minutes as it dries the droppings out and you mix the urine back into the bedding to keep the pellets moist. We have no smell, as they are kept moist we have no dust and they haven't dyed the feathers which I was concerned about....possibly because I pig oil? No they aren't big fluffy beds but are thick and no they aren't a very nice colour although you can buy whiter ones but they are working well for us. Prices range from £4.99 to £8.99 per bag depending on brand. I used a cheaper brand from our local store to see if it worked, now I know it does I shall be buying a bulk load of Aquamax this weekend from Chatsworth HT as they have a stand there and always have a promotion on.
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Post by mcnaughty on May 17, 2017 9:04:40 GMT
Wood pellets on mats all the way! They are so easy and fast to muck out and they are also very cost effective and the muck heap is minimal compared to all other bedding.
I'm not bothered about big fluffy beds and nor is the pony - after all they are not nesting animals ;-)
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Post by Dipsy on May 17, 2017 10:05:35 GMT
Another vote for wood pellets and mats
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Post by ponymum on May 22, 2017 11:32:27 GMT
Huge beds with lots of chopped straw ! But then I do have a white hairy fell, along with a filthy grey connie an even filthier 15.2 and 2 smaller ponies !!
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Post by poppyanderson on Jun 10, 2017 13:46:31 GMT
Mats and wood pellets. Finding it harder to muck out though with my current horse, as he's messy and I'm literally sifting the whole bed every day!
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