Fine flake shavings

[Ready_To_Riot]

I just discovered them! I mean I knew they existed, but have used the large flakes for ever! I always thought they were more comfy for the ponies. Well I was bored and searching on the forums and found that many people prefer the fine flakes. So today, since I had to strip all the stalls and buy shavings, I thought I’d give the fine flakes a try. Holy cow!! I’m in love! They are so easy to pick! There is almost no waste! Of course, I was at the barn all day today so I picked it out as soon as poop hit the ground so we will see how big of a mess my mare will make over night.

I only used two bags, but the mares were laying down all cozy. I’m so excited! And the best part, they are only $5 a bag. The larger flakes were $5.75!

Just thought I would share in case anyone doesn’t already know about the wondrous fine flake shaving

[clanter]

the never ending search for the best bedding…

we have used many but settled on a sort of medium mix… but we are fortunate in that we have a source that will make about any mix a person (or horse) would want

http://englandproducts.com/agriculture/

[TBROCKS]

Fine all the way! SO much easier to pick and decreases the size of the manure pile!

[SugarCubes]

YES!!! I’ve been experimenting with several different bedding types lately and LOVE LOVE LOVE the small flakes, mixed in with the pellets. So much easier to sift through and I feel like the pellets help absorb more moisture than just the shavings alone.

I want to try the swift pick shavings but they were out at the feed store!

[msj]

I honestly think the way a horses ‘uses’ his stall can help determine the size of shaving flakes.

For example, I had one horse that did 95% of his business outside. Unless we had nasty weather, the horses stalls open to sacrifice paddocks and that particular horse usually went outside to urinate and defecate. The other horse that I had would go into a stall every.single.time he had to urinate or defecate.

What happened was the ‘dry stall’ got very dusty and I would use fewer, if any, shavings and the ‘wet’ stall got most of the new shavings. Actually, I’d take a muck tub full of shavings from the dry stall and add to the wet stall most of the time. For the horse in the dry stall I usually got the medium-sized flake if I could get them but if not, then went to the larger flake.

I’ve used the pelleted bedding in the past and it was wonderfully easy to clean, probably even easier than fine shavings BUT come winter, everything clumped up so I never went back to them.

I do hope it works out well for you with the fine shavings as they usually are easier to clean.

[IPEsq]

In my ideal world, I’d use a mix of sawdust, fine and fat flakes. Each serves a different purpose. My horse is pretty rough on his stall and goes through sawdust (what the barn provides) like nobody’s business, but it is really easy to pick out his pee area. I find that he is able to grind up/smear around his poop less when it’s sitting on fluffy fat flakes.

[CHT]

Aren’t the fine shavings dustier?

[moving_to_dc]

[QUOTE=CHT;8463824]
Aren’t the fine shavings dustier?[/QUOTE]

IME, the “fine” shavings from TSC are very dusty. The “fine” shavings (aka sawdust) from other feed stores has zero dust. I cannot think of the brand names we have locally…

[Montanas_Girl]

[QUOTE=CHT;8463824]
Aren’t the fine shavings dustier?[/QUOTE]

Yes. Somewhere between regular shavings and sawdust - not surprising, considering that the particle size of the “shavings” is somewhere between that of traditional shavings and sawdust. Finer particle size = more dust.

[walkinthewalk]

I buy shavings by the pallet, every 4-5 weeks.

I have geldings, one of which is a smegma magnet and needs cleaned way more than the others.

I stopped buying shavings at my main feed store because they stopped carrying the bigger shavings and the mix shavings. All they carry is fine.

I went clear on the other side of town to buy them at Co-Op and discovered, I’m not the only one who stopped buying shavings at the little feed store that can’t afford to lose business:no:

Much to my surprise, the Co-Op shavings are 50 cents a bag cheaper and better quality.

[trubandloki]

I am with MSJ on this. It depends on the horse.
My really wet horse who likes to manure inside gets pellets under sawdust.
My neat mare who rarely uses her stall as a litter box gets large flakes because the fine flakes or pellets are too dusty for her.
I do as MSJ does, when the flakes in her stall start to breakdown and get dusty I transfer that over to the wet stall.

[Trails]

I’ve tried a variety of the fine shavings, some have been more dusty than others. For me, the best is Quik -T- Pick, very absorbent, no urine smell and virtually dustless.

[crosscreeksh]

We always use the fine shavings/sand-like sawdust. Cleans fast and easy…like a litter box!! We buy it bulk from a local sawmill!!

[mvp]

[QUOTE=SugarCubes;8462656]
YES!!! I’ve been experimenting with several different bedding types lately and LOVE LOVE LOVE the small flakes, mixed in with the pellets. So much easier to sift through and I feel like the pellets help absorb more moisture than just the shavings alone.[/QUOTE]

I think that is true. But, man, the pellets make the stall dusty… because they have time to break down and stay dry.

[LadyB]

I love these threads.

We have used, pellets, quick pick, fine shavings (sawdust-like), medium, mixture of medium and large, and then just large.

My gelding is great on quick pick, its not dusty, but is a very fine shaving. Much better than the fine shavings you get bagged for you, those are too dusty.

I love pellets for picking, its like cleaning a kitty litter, so easy. Unfortunately the soaking the pellets part sucks. Its best to have hot water, they absorb okay, but not best for the really wet horse.

I have a horse that soaks his stall. Practically a puddle. I use the large shavings as they absorb best, he gets gutted daily

I have another that’s too messy for fine shavings, he’s on a mix of medium and large. He’s quite wet, and just down right messy.

I personally love Quick Pick, the cost is what makes you want to use it on horses that won’t waste it. Same as pellets. In Canada its about $7 for Pellets and $6 for Quick Pick.

Shavings are around $4.