I am going to be stalling a large amount of horses this winter. Buying bags of shavings for $5/bag and going through 1-2/horse per day isn't going to work for my budget. What are some alternate forms of bedding that you have found that worked well. Or is there better ways to buy shavings? We have good rubber mats in the stalls on top of concrete, so we don't have a nice dirt floor to go without bedding on. TIA
Millet hulls is what we use. Not sure how readily available they are in other parts of the country but here in ND you can get a load for super cheap. They absorb well and don't stink like wood shavings after they absorb. I do not use them in my trailer as they fly around too much. We get them from a place called Red River Commodities, not sure what they are exactly.. google says " a food ingredient supplier". We used sunflower shells at one point when I was younger but have been using millet hulls for 10+ years now.
See if you have a local Pallet factory or cabinet maker in the area who will sell sawdust by the trailer load.
When I was growing up we got ours from a pallet factory - hands down the best bedding I've ever used. It wasn't kiln dried so it didn't suck the moisture out of their feet and despite being very fine wasn't dusty. It was also super easy to clean stalls.
The pelleted shavings last much longer than regular shavings and provide a softer cushion.
^^^This. I can do a 12x12 with 5-6 bags for 30 days. Maybe adding 1-2 within the month. They are also much easier to pick, very little waste. And I can water them down if they dusty without causing a mess.
Pelleted bedding is the way to go if you have to go store bought! Last way longer than shavings and you don't waste near as much. Otherwise I'd look for a local cabinet shop. Luckily we are right down the road from one and can get all we need easily
We buy the wood pellets from Menards that they use for heating. When they get wet, they expand just like the ones specifically for bedding but they're quite a bit cheaper. Two bags and then maybe one bag of fine shavings lasts a long time.
Try to find a lumber mill or millworks close and ask about buying by the truck old or wagon load. We own one in WI and it is a waste product for us so we sell to farmers by the wagon load.
Try to find a lumber mill or millworks close and ask about buying by the truck old or wagon load. We own one in WI and it is a waste product for us so we sell to farmers by the wagon load.
Very true ..
Horse owners .. just ask mill manager if there is any sawdust from
pecan or walnut trees in the load you are getting ... these two woods
are terrible on horses feet.
My hardwood mill charges $5/front end
loader ... takes 6 on a 3-8 ton grain or dump truck with sideboards
and varies on size of trailers lined with 4x8 sheets of plywood .
.. have a good tarp so your saw dust does not blow away on the
trip to your barn ..
Another place usually close to metro areas is ... the wholesaler and
maker of western cedar boards for backyard fencing. My fence board
maker requires you to leave your trailer to take your turn in their
free sawdust line. Trailer spaces are numbered and then they will
call you to come pickup your trailer.
This stuff is he best smelling bedding you have ever SMELLED .. lol
Are you stalling them 24/7. If they are getting out a few hours a day you should only be going through no more then half a bag a shavings a day. Still not cheap but certainly not 2 bags a day. Mine get out a good 10-12 hours all winter and I figure about a half bag every other day unless they are just a total wet pig horse.
Posts: 403 Location: Armuchee, GA, NW section of Ga
Do not know your area, but if you have commerical chicken/turkey farms around, ask them who they get their bulk shavings from....here in Georgia we have a large amount of chicken farms and they get their shavings by the truck load. Store in a dry area and spread as they need it. Much cheaper. I know I have gotten a load or teo in the past, but lately have gotten the bags since I do not bed in the summer. Only winter when they are locked in during bad weather.
Bedding?
