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Post by greydales on Jan 13, 2008 10:54:51 GMT -1
straw beds are!! Toby is on Aubiose as he eats straw but as it's so expensive I thought I'd put down a straw bed for Gem. Now wish I'd gone for the Aubiose! I can muck Toby out in five minutes but Gem's bed takes about half an hour - she buries her poos (which are all over the place), then I have to look for the wees and take up all the floor, then put it all back again and put fresh on. I must admit there is nothing like a cosy thick straw bed with banks but it's a real labour of love . Thank goodness it's only for this winter ....
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Post by PonyGirl on Jan 13, 2008 11:19:38 GMT -1
There are a few at the barn that play hide the poo.
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Post by lucydales on Jan 13, 2008 11:23:30 GMT -1
Can't beat rubber matting!! LOL!
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Post by greydales on Jan 13, 2008 12:34:01 GMT -1
Can't beat rubber matting!! LOL! I agree, but I have 8 stables to rubber mat - only done one so far then have to save the pennies up again! Trouble is there is always something else to spend my money on ........
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Post by bevbob on Jan 13, 2008 13:07:26 GMT -1
Are her poo's solid Gill, when you find them that is? or does she kick them around? If they are solid I would put a huge bed down and then just poo pick throughout the week and take the wee out once a week. I do this with Bobs and the wee never ever comes through and its really quick throughout the week. If she trashes her poos then I wouldnt do this LOL, Bobs stacks his up in one place and then hides about 2 lots. I only ever use 1 bale per week too so its nice and cheap.
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Post by Debbie on Jan 13, 2008 14:19:01 GMT -1
It is a lovely sight, but sooooo incredibly heavy to remove wet straw! You're right, definitely a labor of love
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Post by harveydales on Jan 13, 2008 14:44:08 GMT -1
No, I wouldn't want to go back to straw! Far to much like hard work. I've yet to find anything easier and better than Aubiose for my system - and I've tried just about everything. Straw would be cheaper but very labour intensive but all other bedding works out more expensive. Roll on spring when you can turn them all out.
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Post by knight on Jan 13, 2008 15:36:32 GMT -1
Definitely a labor of love there Gill, finding all the hidden poo. Topaz is just like that, what a mess. I think she does it out of spite, because Knight is so carefull to pile poo only in one spot.
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Post by greydales on Jan 13, 2008 15:52:52 GMT -1
Are her poo's solid Gill, when you find them that is? or does she kick them around? They are fairly solid Bev and she doesn't kick them around, but she does them all over the place so by the time I've hunted around for them I might as well take out the wee as well!
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Post by loopylou on Jan 13, 2008 17:45:02 GMT -1
OOOHHH, it is so hard work, but as you say, it always looks cosy for them. Mine are on rubber matting which makes mucking out so easy and they seem to love it. Sparky has a small straw bed and Mags has a small shavings bed and they both seem very happy. I have to admit if Sparky has been out hunting all day i do like to put down a thicker Straw bed for him on the rubber matting, so he is cosy for the night. I don't think it makes a difference to him, but i go to bed happy, LOL.
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Post by bevbob on Jan 13, 2008 18:58:19 GMT -1
I would give it a go then Gill, I put down at least 2 bales to start and in the morning it looks a right mess BUT....... after a few days it compresses down a bit and works brilliantly. Looking at Bobs bed you would think I use about 3 bales a week but I only use 1, It builds up after a few weeks. The only thing then is the full muck out! I do it on a sunday when I have more time and take around 2.5 barrow full then stick another down. Some people at the yard use 3 straw a week! couldnt afford that!
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Post by mickey on Jan 13, 2008 19:20:32 GMT -1
I dont envy you. Mickey was on straw and was vile and ate it so he went to rubber with shavings. Yeti was vile on shavings so he went to mats with a sprinkle of shavings. Worked well but mats tended to get very wet so evntually gave in and both have full beds on mats. Yeti has turned into an INCREDIBLY clean horse- he poos in 1 corner in a pile and wees atthe back. I take 1-2 barrows out on a saturday and put a bale in. Mickey isnt so clean but I do prefer a full bed as he doesnt smell so much!!!
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Post by greydales on Jan 13, 2008 20:19:19 GMT -1
My very favourite and least time consuming bed is Aubiose on rubber mats. I will make sure that this straw bed is my last LOL!
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Post by bevbob on Jan 13, 2008 20:25:48 GMT -1
LOL! I miss easibed sooooo much! Gill, think of all the calories you will be burning off LOL!
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Post by jonib on Jan 14, 2008 8:09:00 GMT -1
I was going to say the same..When I had our in over bonfire weekend I mucked out 3 straw stables (one with 3 shetties sharing) for 4 days and was amazed at how it toned up a few bits of my body!
Mind you..wouldnt want to do it for the whole winter so dont blame you !
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