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 Midget Lover
     
Location: Kentucky | My horses have been in the pasture for a few years now, but we have just finished our barn and I'm going to put them in this weekend for nights only, out during the day.
The floors are dirt, stalls are 10x10, with two 10x20 stalls. I put in 5 bags of Equine Fresh pellets, then one bag of regular pine shavings. I feel like that's not enough. How "fluffy" do you like your stalls? I do not have water hooked up to the barn yet, so I wasn't able to wet the pellets to make the fluff out.
How many times a month do I need to add pellets/shavings? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 407
| Once your horse is in the stall the pellets will fluff out. I like to rebed my stall once a week if they are kept in alot and less often when they go out most of the time. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | The minute those pellets expand, you're going to find that you have plenty of bedding. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1236
Location: NE Oklahoma | I pick out my stalls every day. My horses can come in and out as they please. I usually add one bag of shavings a week to make up for what I take out when I clean them. |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | OK good! Thank you for the tip on the pellets. I was thinking I wasted money buying them. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | when i first start i put 6 to 8 bags of shaving(i cant use the pellets, they would turn in to a frozen mess) and i clean it every morning, and i add 1/2 a bag or so everyother day......i try to buy my shavings by the pallet and its around 180 dollars an
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Edited by mruggles 2014-01-30 8:48 AM
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| Someone once told me they added water to the pellets still in the bag - I haven't tried it yet but it should work. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| I'm a freak about my shavings LOL. I have 12 X 12 stalls and do about 4 bags to start out with. Won't do the pellets anymore without wetting them down (had a less-than-intelligent colt start eating the pellets, they expanded in his belly and he got an impaction.) Scared me to death, but he got through it ok. I know a lot of people that use them and have had no problems, so it was probably just my horse :) |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | bowersk - 2014-01-30 9:51 AM I'm a freak about my shavings LOL. I have 12 X 12 stalls and do about 4 bags to start out with. Won't do the pellets anymore without wetting them down (had a less-than-intelligent colt start eating the pellets, they expanded in his belly and he got an impaction.) Scared me to death, but he got through it ok. I know a lot of people that use them and have had no problems, so it was probably just my horse :)
I did read on the bag that horses may try the pellets, but they will probably spit them out because they are not food. It scares me that they had to put the warning on the bag. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| Murphy - 2014-01-30 8:54 AM bowersk - 2014-01-30 9:51 AM I'm a freak about my shavings LOL. I have 12 X 12 stalls and do about 4 bags to start out with. Won't do the pellets anymore without wetting them down (had a less-than-intelligent colt start eating the pellets, they expanded in his belly and he got an impaction.) Scared me to death, but he got through it ok. I know a lot of people that use them and have had no problems, so it was probably just my horse :) I did read on the bag that horses may try the pellets, but they will probably spit them out because they are not food. It scares me that they had to put the warning on the bag.
Yes, I remember reading the warning and thinking, "oh, my horses are such picky eaters anyway, surely they'll leave them alone..." Yeah right! Of course it was the Ivory James colt that cost more than any of the others to even get him here. Beautiful to look at but sometimes I think he got a few of those pellets lodged in his brain  |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | When I boarded my grey mare, she loved it extra fluffy.....I was provided with 2 bags of shavings per week from the facility, but I would go and buy 2 more bags because she liked the extra padding.
I've never used pellets but I perfer the fine shavings, and I use them in my trailer as well. |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | hoofs_in_motion - 2014-01-30 9:58 AM When I boarded my grey mare, she loved it extra fluffy.....I was provided with 2 bags of shavings per week from the facility, but I would go and buy 2 more bags because she liked the extra padding.
I've never used pellets but I perfer the fine shavings, and I use them in my trailer as well.
When I boarded, they always used they bagged fine pine shavings as well, but I've heard a lot about the pellets. I'm going to try it and see how it goes. Apparently they last longer than regular shavings and help with the stank.  |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | Murphy - 2014-01-30 8:54 AM
bowersk - 2014-01-30 9:51 AM I'm a freak about my shavings LOL. I have 12 X 12 stalls and do about 4 bags to start out with. Won't do the pellets anymore without wetting them down (had a less-than-intelligent colt start eating the pellets, they expanded in his belly and he got an impaction.) Scared me to death, but he got through it ok. I know a lot of people that use them and have had no problems, so it was probably just my horse :)
I did read on the bag that horses may try the pellets, but they will probably spit them out because they are not food. It scares me that they had to put the warning on the bag.
I had one really poor looking colt who came in and would try to eat the bedding pellets at first. As soon as he got used to grain and was eating regularly, I was able to put him back on them and haven't had any problems since. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | Mine are in most of the time. They go out on a regular basis but come back in. I'm lucky and my dad is able to get saw dust from work for free so I haven't had to purchase bedding in probably 6 or 7 years, except if I go away for the weekend and I will go buy some bags. I rebed most of mine about once a week or as needed. I have one guy that is a pig and I rebed him every few days but I also pick my stalls ever evening. I used to use the pellets before I got the free bedding and I liked them a lot.
Edited by lexyy12 2014-01-30 9:28 AM
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 Stinky Cat Owner
Posts: 4097
Location: Oregon | You all will probably think I’m mean… but I use just enough shavings to absorb pee and have a little cushioning but I really don’t use that much shavings. My stalls are matted and they can go in and of their stalls into their own paddocks and when they lay down, it’s always outside and they typically all pee outside. About once a week I add a bag of shavings to one stall and then split one bag between another horse and the donkey and then I pick them daily at night, in the morning if needed. My stalls are always clean and dry. In the summer I probably use a bag between all three about every week or so. I’ve tried the pellets so many times and it always seems like I have to do more work to keep them clean and dry – I know so many people swear by them but I just never seem to get it right with those.
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Your pellets will break down and get fluffy within a few days of them being in. I like mine a little fluffy but not too thick. I put down 6 bags of pellets in my 10x10 and no shavings and made them crush the pellets down and it was plenty. With the shavings you should be fine. I also scrape the bedding back so it only covers 75% of the stall so they don't push a bunch out the door and I don't have bedding in space they only stand in to eat grain and drink water. And it looks nice when people come by :)
also when you add pellets, sweep a space large enough for the bag of pellets in your stall, and then you can take a bucket of water and pour it out on the bedding (slowly and you only really need a half a bucket per bag of pellets) while you're doing something else and it will get fluffy and then you can spread it into your bedding. It's easier than dragging the hose out and the pellets will expand and you won't have so much wasted. |
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | I switched to pellets this year, I started with 4 bags, wet them down and they were awesome. Now I add about one bag a week, but dont wet them down. I rake them into what is left in the stall and any moisture that is left will expand the pellets. With this crazy weather we have been having pellets dont work that well, they freeze and pack down, so I add a bag of shavings. I am not a shavings fan any more, so I am anxious for the weather to change.
Also be careful with a dirt floor, I had a dirt floor for years and it was great, until I couldnt get the wet out. Stripped them all, tamped down fine rock and cut mats to fit. Best thing I have ever done. It was a lot of work, but so worth it. Hopefully yours will hold and you wont have to worry about the wet. |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | polorunner - 2014-01-30 3:17 PM I switched to pellets this year, I started with 4 bags, wet them down and they were awesome. Now I add about one bag a week, but dont wet them down. I rake them into what is left in the stall and any moisture that is left will expand the pellets. With this crazy weather we have been having pellets dont work that well, they freeze and pack down, so I add a bag of shavings. I am not a shavings fan any more, so I am anxious for the weather to change.
Also be careful with a dirt floor, I had a dirt floor for years and it was great, until I couldnt get the wet out. Stripped them all, tamped down fine rock and cut mats to fit. Best thing I have ever done. It was a lot of work, but so worth it. Hopefully yours will hold and you wont have to worry about the wet.
The more people the talk to, the more I realize the stall mats vs. no stall mats is about 50/50, and each side loves their stalls, haha!
I'm going to see how it works out. I may end up putting limestone and tamping that down in the stalls as well as the alleyway, but I'm going to see how it holds up. |
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Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I have 2 stalls with mats, only because of the way the horse is in it. They both keep their stalls wet so they have mats. The other 3 don't. |
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Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | Murphy - 2014-01-30 3:28 PM polorunner - 2014-01-30 3:17 PM I switched to pellets this year, I started with 4 bags, wet them down and they were awesome. Now I add about one bag a week, but dont wet them down. I rake them into what is left in the stall and any moisture that is left will expand the pellets. With this crazy weather we have been having pellets dont work that well, they freeze and pack down, so I add a bag of shavings. I am not a shavings fan any more, so I am anxious for the weather to change.
Also be careful with a dirt floor, I had a dirt floor for years and it was great, until I couldnt get the wet out. Stripped them all, tamped down fine rock and cut mats to fit. Best thing I have ever done. It was a lot of work, but so worth it. Hopefully yours will hold and you wont have to worry about the wet. The more people the talk to, the more I realize the stall mats vs. no stall mats is about 50/50, and each side loves their stalls, haha!
I'm going to see how it works out. I may end up putting limestone and tamping that down in the stalls as well as the alleyway, but I'm going to see how it holds up.
I dont blame you for trying it with just dirt first. We had just dirt for a number of years, then when it rained here for 8 days straight, the ground was to moist to recover. I spent the hottest day of the year, digging them out and putting limestone down, tamping and cutting mats. However, I would do it all again since it makes the stall so simple. Your may work just perfect, for the sake of all the work, I hope it does. |
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