Bedding?

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Bedding? Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2017-09-13 9:20 AM 12 replies, 3236 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


IowaCanChaser Reg. Dec 2014	Posted 2017-09-11 6:19 PM Subject: Bedding?
Elite Veteran Posts: 725	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
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rodeomom3 Reg. Dec 2007	Posted 2017-09-11 6:41 PM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Shelter Dog Lover Posts: 10277	The pelleted shavings last much longer than regular shavings and provide a softer cushion.
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MidWest1452 Reg. May 2013	Posted 2017-09-11 8:50 PM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Extreme Veteran Posts: 595 Location: North Dakota	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.
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OhMax Reg. Feb 2013	Posted 2017-09-12 7:46 AM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Married to a Louie Lover Posts: 3303	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.
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RedHead84 Reg. Dec 2014	Posted 2017-09-12 9:39 AM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Elite Veteran Posts: 889	rodeomom3 - 2017-09-11 6:41 PM 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.
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barrelchasinmonki Reg. Oct 2003	Posted 2017-09-12 5:49 PM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Expert Posts: 2533 Location: the land of dust & sticks	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
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hannahbug Reg. Mar 2017	Posted 2017-09-12 7:29 PM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Veteran Posts: 233	Every boarding barn I've ever been in buys shavings by the truck load.
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WiscoRacer Reg. Jul 2015	Posted 2017-09-12 8:20 PM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Extreme Veteran Posts: 516	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.
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Me&Runt Reg. Feb 2006	Posted 2017-09-12 10:31 PM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Extreme Veteran Posts: 440 Location: Wisconsin	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.
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BARRELHORSE USA Reg. Sep 2011	Posted 2017-09-12 11:10 PM Subject: RE: Bedding?
	Me&Runt - 2017-09-12 10:31 PM 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
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Me&Runt Reg. Feb 2006	Posted 2017-09-13 8:58 AM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Extreme Veteran Posts: 440 Location: Wisconsin	Walnut is also poisonous to all livestock if they eat it. Most mills are well aware of that so it usually not an issue but worth asking.
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ajs2002 Reg. Apr 2006	Posted 2017-09-13 9:13 AM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Expert Posts: 1367 Location: mi	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.
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janjan1 Reg. Jul 2006	Posted 2017-09-13 9:20 AM Subject: RE: Bedding?
Extreme Veteran 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.
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