fresh wood shavings as bedding?

[~Perdita.M~]

Anyone use literally just made, spirally wood shavings, i.e from a carpenters workshop as bedding? I have been offered a stable at the farm, as it has just been re-roofed. Its a lovely big brick one, and im thinking i may take it as the other lady has a laminitic horse and wont let me put hay out in the field EVER.I know Sham will need some, even if just the bad days over winter, and if he comes in at night i can make sure he gets some.:) I can also keep him cleaner too, lol:D Anyway, back to the point. Not sure i really can/want to fork out for all the bedding:( Cost me a fortune last winter, and if he lives out it saves, alot. Was kind of umming and arring over the stable with the farmer, and he said......the bloke that rents the other barn for his woodwork has tonnes of wood shavings....gives them away for free..........other woman gets them from him etc etc. So, has any one else used it? is it safe? dusty? will he try and eat it?:rolleyes:

[Miss MoneyPenny]

I get shavings and sawdust from the local sawmill, as they offer me 1 tonne bags for £2, so I jump at them! I store the shavings, but still have used them straight away.

Penny isn't bothered by the dust, but after a night in the stable the shavings are just like expensive bagged horsey shop ones! I also mix in shreaded paper, which I get free from the office, anmd that keep the amount of dust down...just a thought - I'd give it a trial and see how it goes!;)

[nat17]

A girl on my yard uses them also she has no probs;)

[~Perdita.M~]

excellent!!! free bedding sound good to me:) Just wonder if he can make enough to keep up with the mess that Sham makes though, lol:D

[galadriel]

I used to buy shavings from a guy who'd go collect the castoffs at the sawmills, and deliver in a big dump truck.

The only big concern is toxic woods. In particular, be sure there's no black walnut. Overall make sure that none of the wood used is poisonous; find out what kind of wood/woods he uses, and check on it. Ask him to let you know if he uses something new...and don't rely on him remembering, be sure to check when you're getting more.

[Bobbi77]

A friend on our yard uses this type of shavings fromn a local sawmill for his three horses and has done for years with no problems at all.
:)

[virtuallyhorses]

Yep, good stuff and smells really nice too. Quite abosorbent and shouldn't be at all dusty. The only check you need to do with shavings or sawdust is that it isn't from treated wood but if its from a woodworker etc that shouldn't be the case.

Even better if you mix the dirty shavings in your poo pile it makes the best quality compost and people will love it for their gardens as it's much better than just poo. Cleaning up is pretty easy too.

[~Perdita.M~]

Sounding better and better:D Thanks for the help guys. Just went to poke around our new stable today, its not the brick one as i thought but a divided old barn, needs some patching up doing and a new door, and getting rid of weeds etc outside, but I think it will be perfect:)

[Dek]

I can see the benefits of FREE bedding, but could someone tell me where it is possible to purchase another pair of Lungs for a horse, and how they could be fitted?
I own and run a Livery yard, and see many horses with Lung problems mainly caused by DUSTY HAY and BEDDING from many years earlier. One of the most important things a horse can own is good Lungs, and you are signing your horses death warrant to a premature DEATH forcing them to inhale dust.
Try throwing your bedding up with a fork about 4 or 5 feet in the stable and then see how long you can stand there breathing it in. This it what your horse does when he rolls and you are not there, literally choking himself.
FREE SHAVINGS great, add up the saving and see if it would buy another horse after your other has been put down due to Chronic Empheysema.
THEIR HEALTH IS IN YOUR HANDS, Check on Vets charges and then decide whether the saving is worth it.
Dek

[gunner5125]

i used to use them but found they were quite dusty & made all the horses in the block cough & their eyes were all gunked up in the morning. better to spend out on dust extracted in my opinion. but if you think they look ok then go for it.