What shavings are best for horses?
Wood shavings are a very popular choice since they are soft, highly absorbent and easy to clean out of the stall. The most popular type of wood used in shavings comes from pine and can vary in size from large, fluffy shavings to smaller, finer size shavings.
What wood shavings are not good for horses?
Black walnut shavings are a toxic bedding for horses. The innermost wood of the black walnut causes toxicity after oral or skin contact. Bedding containing as little as 20 percent fresh black walnut shavings made from old or new wood can cause toxicity.
How many bags of shavings do I need for a 12×12 stall?
Each 12×12 stall requires approximately 5 bags of shavings per week, at $6 per bag.
Do horses prefer straw or shavings?
In addition to looking attractive, straw can make a very soft bedding, particularly if it’s chopped a second time after harvest. This softness can encourage horses to lie down and get more rest. Straw is also the bedding of choice for foaling, as opposed to wood shavings.
Is shavings better than straw?
In conclusion, straw is cheaper than shavings but more difficult to muck out and makes your muck heap huge in a small amount of time. Shavings are more expensive and it is important you use a high quality brand so you don’t overwhelm your horse in dust and keep your bed tidy and mucked out.
What is the most absorbent bedding for horses?
Sorbeo is perfect for the muckiest of horses – and the wettest. Horses and ponies which suffer from Cushings disease do really well on Sorbeo as they are generally wetter in their stables.
Why do horse shavings turn red?
This is due to the presence of plant metabolites (pyrocatechines) in the urine that change color when mixed with oxygen. When they oxidize they turn a red or orange color. It can happen year round (the same process can turn stall shavings red), but is especially obvious against the white snow!
Are cherry shavings OK for horses?
Cyprus shavings are usually available in the south but horses with sensitive skin may be irritated by this kind of wood. Maple and red maple shavings are toxic to horses and should not be used. Black Cherry shavings can cause slightly more mild reactions, but is toxic if eaten. Do not use this kind of shavings either.
How deep should shavings be in a horse stall?
Number of bags. (3 cubic feet) On average, customers apply 6 inches of shavings on the floor of the stalls to ensure a good level of comfort for the horse and an excellent absorption rate. However, if the stalls are equipped with rubber mats, less bedding thinkness is required.
Are shavings better than straw?
How often do you change horse shavings?
Soiled bedding should be removed from stalls daily and replaced with fresh bedding. Soiled bedding may equal 2 to 3 times the volume of manure, depending on management practices. Each stalled horse may require the removal of 60 to 70 pounds of waste per day.
What soaks up horse urine?
Stopping Ammonia Sweet PDZ captures and neutralizes ammonia and odors while absorbing urine and dampness. Applying it in your stalls regularly will enable your horses to maintain their energy and stamina by giving them fresh and healthy air to breathe.