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Veteran
Posts: 129
 
Location: Northwest Ohio | Does anyone know any pros and/or cons about using mulch/wood chips instead of processed sawdust for bedding? We have a local recycling station that collects branches, etc. and chips them into fine mulch. It's cheaper and more accessible than sawdust around here. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
Location: Illinois | I would say there would be more cons than pros as wood chips would offer no absorbancy. Harder to pick through and heavier. Mulch, has too high of it's own moisture content, just don't see it as a good idea. About the only thing you might want to either for is the muddy spots by gates. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
  
Location: Vermont | Well they probably also chip pallets...if their metal catcher is overloaded...you will find metal shards in with the chips... In the long run it is cheaper to use shavings...or this stuff... http://www.woodypet.com/index.html |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
Location: Vanzant, Missouri | I would be leary about the wood chips. Unless you know that there aren't any tree chips that are toxic to horses in it.Plus they would be harder to work with when cleaning stalls,
We usually use sawdust here but most of the dealers deal with horse people so the sawdust is free of toxic type trees. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | As was stated, you don't want any toxic wood. Cherry is prevelant in our area and would disqualify any chipped mulch as a source of bedding. We have a few sawdust companies that cater to the horse people, and are careful abput what type of wood they supply. We purchased an industrial paper shredder and often use the shredded paper as bedding. There's no dust, a plentiful supply of product, and a large absorbancy factor. It breaks down quickly and is a good alternative to the wood products. Gard |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: alabama | If you arn't able to get truck loads of shavings in your area, try the pelleted type bedding. Most feed stores carry one brand or another. I would stay away from the mulching deal. You run risk of gettind something toxic to your horses that way. You also don't know what other stray objects may be mixed in that would harm them also. |
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Veteran
Posts: 225
Location: Urbana,MD | I get the bagged pine shavings.I just love the white fluffy bedding.Smells nice too:) |
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Member
Posts: 27
Location: atwater,ohio | If your looking to save $$ on bedding here is what I did. I found a used Gravity wagon/Gravity Bucket for sale . It is a big piece of Farm equipment farmers use. It may take awhile But you can eventually get them for under $500. We found a Cow farmer who gets his bedding hauled in by the Semi-Load to sell Us bedding( we made sure it is safe for Horses). It costs Us 35 to have the wagon loaded to the top with bedding and will last Us for 4-6 months for 3 horses who get turned out every morning and stalled every night . Best Investment we ever made. |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: Melder, La. | I have used the pine pellet bedding for several years now and love it. The waste is cut down to 1/3 of what we use to have or more. It is so easy to clean the stalls as the poop stays in the fork and the pellets go thru. It really absorbs the urine and has a fresh scent. I only have to strip about 2 times a year, just add one or two bags a week. stalls stay dry, pine pellets are just the best. |
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Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: Northwest Ohio | I'm not familiar with this "pelleted" pine shavings. Where to you get it? How much?
Edited by Candy girl 2008-03-27 2:05 PM
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by Candy girl on 2008-03-27 3:03 PM
I'm not familiar with this "pelleted" pine shavings. Where to you get it? How much? http://www.woodypet.com/index.html You get this palletized and drop-shipped directly to your farm and because they are plastic bags, you can leave the entire pallet load outside the barn and then just bring in as many bags as you need... |
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stall bedding
