Anyone use fresh sawdust for bedding?

[AprilH]

I've been using woody pet or equine fresh but it is so dusty and I'm tired of always wetting it down, plus the expense of it. Do any of you use fresh sawdust for bedding? Do you need to let it go through the heat process before using? What are the pros and cons you have had with sawdust? Thank you for any help!

[lisa l aka marci]

April,

I have used sawdust, both bulk straight from the mill (usually a bit more dusty) and also bagged shavings.....

It depends on if you get coarse or fine shavings, if you have a horse that is neat in the stall it is great - I used to go through maybe 1 bag shavings (3.75cu/ft) every TWO WEEKS - if you have a really messy horse of course you'll go through more. Around here bags are about 3.50-4.50/bag. With bulk shavings, you need a place to keep them.

In one barn, we would let the damp shavings build us some in the winter (concrete floors) to help keep the stall warmer - putting dry shavings on top and cleaning out the really messy stuff and poop each day.

[Boyd R]

I use shavings also. And just bought in bulk At 5.50 a bag and these bags will cover a 12X12 stall with ease. With most store bought bags it will take two bags. I have enough to last me 3 yrs. if you would like some you more than welcome to come by

[Terry Wallace]

be carefull with SAWDUST...be sure of what you are buying so you don't accidently poison your horse.... you would not want black walnut or various other types of sawdust that they can inhale and have toxicity to.

That is the problem with sawdust... sometimes it comes from MANY different tree species...depends on what your mill is selling in wood at the time...

Sawdust is particularily bad for young foals who sleep with their noses in the bedding... good recipe for respiratory problems...

Above all... be sure what type you are buying...it may not be such a good deal if it comes with vet bills... there is a reason "Woody pet" and such are not as cheap as sawdust....

JMO! Good luck with that....

[Abejita]

I use sawdust delivered in bulk..we have a garage we can store it in and get it delivered by truck w/walking floor..It can be dusty as it isnt all 'fresh' but we used to always get green dust and It worked really good.You just have to make sure you dont get any bad woods especially black walnut The old supplier used to get us hemlock ..loved it..It doesnt have to go through a heat process..but dont be surprsed if when you get to the middle of the pile if it is darker and steaming a little..We have stored a tractor trailer load and never had problems with fire or anything either.
I use the 'fine tines' fork and I like how you can scoop up the wet and sift out the solids with much less waste than shavings.

[AprilH]

Thank you all for the info. The mill does a course grind and is close to me so they can let me know what wood they are using when I need a load. I was wondering about which trees to steer clear of and had heard before about the black walnut. I can also use other bedding when we have the babies stalled. I love the freshness of the sawdust and thought it may be not as dusty as the wood pellets. I don't like shavings at all, the compost pile is enormous and I never feel like I get all the wet out. I guess it would be best to store the sawdust in a large indoor pile versus in bags, any suggestions? Thanks again.

[Abejita]

Yes indoors would probably be best ..bags might actually be more labor intensive ..filling them then having to haul and dump If you keep it in a pile you can load a wheelbarrow and go to the stall...(I am spoiled..We just drive into the barn aisleway with the skidsteer bucket full and bed stalls outta that.Out storage shed has a concrete floor and we just can drive in and scoop it up..).If you have to store it outside,you could build a short three sided/walled 'box' and tarp it.The bottom will still get damp but it will still be serviceable

[stella]

I get a big dumptruck load delivered- outdoors- and cover with a heavy tarp, it stays quite dry!

[Pasomom]

I use sawdust also, and love it. Down here, our saw mill is milling pine, and occasionally cypress. The sawdust has a great smell. I think the pine/ turpentine smell helps to keep the bugs out also.

I usually get my load, use it all, and fill all my stalls 6 to 8 inches high and don't have to do it very often when you put it real thick. I've never had a problem so far. I'd say a load spread in my stalls will last me two to three months, depending on if it is summer or winter. Summer, my horses stay out most of the time so there is very little pooping to clean up after. Winter I use more, as when it is really cold, if I blanket the horses, I leave them stalled during the night.

I started out with the shavings, but I am like you. I feel like I mucked out more shavings than poop.

If I were going to keep sawdust on hand, I would put down a tarp, and then cover with a tarp also. Unless you have a cement place to do it. That is undoubtably the best, but we don't all have that facility. Abejita, you have the ideal set up!

[Susan Ostertag]

I have been using sawdust for years and find it to be very suitable for me. I started in '82 and have always been happy with it.

I now store it in the center isle of my lower barn. I don't use those stall anymore. Just hay in the loft. Anyway before I moved the horses to the new barn I had to have a place for my sawdust. I poured a concret pad and tried the tarp thing, but it seems that my dust kept getting wet.

I built a roof over it, but since I didn't have the money for a tall roof I put the roof on a track and ran the track stright back. It was very easy to roll the top back on the track. I put side wall on the support walls and a back wall. The front had 2 doors that swung. (Is that a word?) out. This worked great for years. Now that area is where I have my ultrasound set up.