no straw! what do i use.....

Apryle & Rayne · 02-14-2006, 08:47 PM

hey
I cant find a bale of straw anywhere here, no kidding!(for my mare's foal) This is a lumber town so everyone uses shaving and their foals are born n spring on soft pasture grass.(she was accidentaly bred hence this time of year with the snow and all). Could we use spruce branches(like the prickly stuff) cut in 12" lengths as some type of bedding?it would be soft enuff, but would it be dangerous to the baby's health?anyone have any other ideas for bedding?

aBreeze · 02-14-2006, 08:49 PM

I would use a 3rd or 4th crop of hay... I dont know anything about spruce branches but it doesnt sound good...

Barn_Brat · 02-14-2006, 09:06 PM

You could use paper shavings,? if you have a paper shreeder and tons of old newpaper.

SalemsMom · 02-15-2006, 04:17 AM

I agree with the hay, I would try finding some 4th cutting orchard grass,so long as there is no Mildew. We have that problem to,and most of the sawmills have closed here,we thought about newspapers,but I was told,that sometimes they will munch on them,and it wouldn't be good because of the ink,and also,could cause inpaction.

JBandRio · 02-15-2006, 04:57 AM

Is there Home Depot or Lowe's or anything like that around? What about a landscape company?

But use older hay if you can only find "dirty" straw.

Kriss2004 · 02-15-2006, 05:17 AM

Well what about pelleted bedding?? Its made from wood chip compated into a pellet, its not light so the foal wouldnt breath it in. But would be soft. Otherwise I would go with everyone else and try a grass hay.

Arabians4ME · 02-15-2006, 05:33 AM

Hay works fine. Bed with shavings then put your hay on top. Been there done that with paper shreddings works great for everday stall use but not for foaling! But surely there's a home store that has straw in your area...

Acme Acres · 02-15-2006, 06:42 AM

We use coarse grindings day in and day out and have had lots of babies born on it w/out problem. It's small enough to be comfy but large enough to not get stuck in their noses.

Apryle & Rayne · 02-15-2006, 11:27 AM

no straw at all!!!!! none none none! believe me. I have to order most of my horse stuff from outta town.No hay at all either........most people are selling their horses because they have no hay!our town is considered pretty big for up north and our population is only 10,000 so I doubt I will find anything. And the foal cannot be born in 3' of snow(we usually have more too). Just imagine a north pole setting lol(well thats just a lil bit far fetched but u will kinda get the idea)

Appylvr · 02-15-2006, 01:15 PM

I would use hay...

02-14-2006, 08:47 PM	#1
Apryle & Rayne Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northern Ontario Posts: 923 Images: 103	no straw! what do i use..... hey I cant find a bale of straw anywhere here, no kidding!(for my mare's foal) This is a lumber town so everyone uses shaving and their foals are born n spring on soft pasture grass.(she was accidentaly bred hence this time of year with the snow and all). Could we use spruce branches(like the prickly stuff) cut in 12" lengths as some type of bedding?it would be soft enuff, but would it be dangerous to the baby's health?anyone have any other ideas for bedding?

02-14-2006, 08:49 PM	#2
aBreeze Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: MN Posts: 5,671 Images: 126 Blog Entries: 1	I would use a 3rd or 4th crop of hay... I dont know anything about spruce branches but it doesnt sound good... __________________ Some say our national pastime is baseball. Not me. It's gossip. Erma Bombeck I was on HGS when we made 3 million posts!

02-15-2006, 04:57 AM	#5
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,699 Images: 145 Blog Entries: 12	Is there Home Depot or Lowe's or anything like that around? What about a landscape company? But use older hay if you can only find "dirty" straw. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - You can't hit me with all those snowballs!

02-15-2006, 05:33 AM	#7
Arabians4ME Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Blountville, TN Posts: 4,526 Images: 1216	Hay works fine. Bed with shavings then put your hay on top. Been there done that with paper shreddings works great for everday stall use but not for foaling! But surely there's a home store that has straw in your area... __________________ Jamie Unttouchable, Muscaskaia, Kararose, Karizmuh, Anteiaa's Legacy, Cassie, Rebel, Tab, Romance, Penny, and Ace! I'll never forget you WA-Whimsey, Cody, Nici, FF Anteiaa, and my beloved Pete.

02-15-2006, 06:42 AM	#8
Acme Acres Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,375 Images: 429	We use coarse grindings day in and day out and have had lots of babies born on it w/out problem. It's small enough to be comfy but large enough to not get stuck in their noses. __________________ *Acme Acres* Home of Reflections Playboy & ShowHorseSupplies.com www.azpainthorses.com 私達は逃す! 多くを書きなさい! 天空のジャンパーの私立探偵

02-14-2006, 09:06 PM	#3
Barn_Brat Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,302 Images: 7 Blog Entries: 5	You could use paper shavings,? if you have a paper shreeder and tons of old newpaper.

02-15-2006, 04:17 AM	#4
SalemsMom Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,780 Images: 6	I agree with the hay, I would try finding some 4th cutting orchard grass,so long as there is no Mildew. We have that problem to,and most of the sawmills have closed here,we thought about newspapers,but I was told,that sometimes they will munch on them,and it wouldn't be good because of the ink,and also,could cause inpaction.

02-15-2006, 05:17 AM	#6
Kriss2004 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,413 Images: 595	Well what about pelleted bedding?? Its made from wood chip compated into a pellet, its not light so the foal wouldnt breath it in. But would be soft. Otherwise I would go with everyone else and try a grass hay.

02-15-2006, 11:27 AM	#9
Apryle & Rayne Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northern Ontario Posts: 923 Images: 103	no straw at all!!!!! none none none! believe me. I have to order most of my horse stuff from outta town.No hay at all either........most people are selling their horses because they have no hay!our town is considered pretty big for up north and our population is only 10,000 so I doubt I will find anything. And the foal cannot be born in 3' of snow(we usually have more too). Just imagine a north pole setting lol(well thats just a lil bit far fetched but u will kinda get the idea)

02-15-2006, 01:15 PM	#10
Appylvr Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 7,128 Images: 310	I would use hay... __________________ A solitary ride through the bush is more beneficial than six months with the best psychiatrist I've been snowballed! No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle

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