Sawdust or Straw for foaling

Solsalia · 02-22-2006, 08:10 AM

Okay, I keep having people give me different opinions on what a foal should be born on. The barn I just took my mare at does sawdust but if insist I can have straw. This is my first time boarding but a necessity with how cold it still is. I just wanted everyone elses opinions on what they think.

Sawdust I heard can get in their noses and ears, Straw can poke their eyes.

Lazy F Ponies · 02-22-2006, 08:15 AM

I voted for Straw, but with that said. If you can't find good CLEAN VERY CLEAN straw, then go for the shavings, they are kiln dried and clean and fresh.

With the hay shortage in Texas right now, it's hard to find hay let alone straw. So, Chopper was born on shavings and did just fine. I have also had them born in the middle of the paddock on the dirt and they did fine as well.

PalominoBaby57 · 02-22-2006, 08:20 AM

WOODY PET! It's expensive but it's well worth the money! It's great and it's fluffy!

Lazy F Ponies · 02-22-2006, 08:54 AM

Tractor supply carries a different brand, but same thing as well as Woody Pet, I think it's called Equine Pine, same price maybe a few cents difference, but 10 lbs. more product per bag

Solsalia · 02-22-2006, 09:00 AM

I will have to check those out, Thanks

bay_blnd jmpr07 · 02-22-2006, 09:04 AM

I worry about using sawdust because if a piece gets into the mare that can lead to a raging infection...Though even with 2 big mishaps nothing like that happened with Fiona.

I'm using very soft and fine grass hay for my mini though.

BestofPrincess · 02-22-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bay_blnd jmpr07

I worry about using sawdust because if a piece gets into the mare that can lead to a raging infection...Though even with 2 big mishaps nothing like that happened with Fiona.

I'm using very soft and fine grass hay for my mini though.

it can also get into the youngs foals, umbilicle, eyes...ect..

prettyqtrs · 02-22-2006, 11:09 AM

We always use straw. Often times we will put a thin layer of wood shavings down first (to help absorb) and then heavily bed the stall with clean straw.

Sandra-A1 · 02-22-2006, 11:48 AM

We use both..... shavings on bottom with a thick straw layer on top.
I find that having shavings on the bottom helps with absorbency.
Bedding the foaling stall this way works really well for us.

Solsalia · 02-23-2006, 10:20 PM

I thought about the shavings on bottom and straw on top. First time for a mare I own to foal and I'm boarding her at a barn... first time also boarding at a barn. They use shavings only but said if I insisted on straw for her delivery they would do it. I just feel better about it (as long as it's not moldy) for the foal to be delivered on.

View Poll Results: Which do you prefer for foaling in a stall?
Sawdust	0	0%
Straw	20	76.92%
other (please note)	6	23.08%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

02-22-2006, 08:10 AM	#1
Solsalia Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,031 Images: 136 Blog Entries: 7	Sawdust or Straw for foaling Okay, I keep having people give me different opinions on what a foal should be born on. The barn I just took my mare at does sawdust but if insist I can have straw. This is my first time boarding but a necessity with how cold it still is. I just wanted everyone elses opinions on what they think. Sawdust I heard can get in their noses and ears, Straw can poke their eyes. Last edited by Solsalia; 02-23-2006 at 10:16 PM.

02-22-2006, 08:15 AM	#2
Lazy F Ponies Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Great State of Texas! Posts: 831 Images: 276	I voted for Straw, but with that said. If you can't find good CLEAN VERY CLEAN straw, then go for the shavings, they are kiln dried and clean and fresh. With the hay shortage in Texas right now, it's hard to find hay let alone straw. So, Chopper was born on shavings and did just fine. I have also had them born in the middle of the paddock on the dirt and they did fine as well. __________________ Chrissy Fink Lazy F Ponies www.lazyfponies.com

02-22-2006, 08:20 AM	#3
PalominoBaby57 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Rochester New York Posts: 1,759 Images: 334 Blog Entries: 3	WOODY PET! It's expensive but it's well worth the money! It's great and it's fluffy! __________________ Hello, my name is MARY *deal with it*

02-22-2006, 08:54 AM	#4
Lazy F Ponies Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Great State of Texas! Posts: 831 Images: 276	Tractor supply carries a different brand, but same thing as well as Woody Pet, I think it's called Equine Pine, same price maybe a few cents difference, but 10 lbs. more product per bag __________________ Chrissy Fink Lazy F Ponies www.lazyfponies.com

02-22-2006, 09:00 AM	#5
Solsalia Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,031 Images: 136 Blog Entries: 7	I will have to check those out, Thanks

02-22-2006, 09:04 AM	#6
bay_blnd jmpr07 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N.Granby, Connecticut Posts: 11,058 Images: 424	I worry about using sawdust because if a piece gets into the mare that can lead to a raging infection...Though even with 2 big mishaps nothing like that happened with Fiona. I'm using very soft and fine grass hay for my mini though. __________________ Semper Paratus Fiona's First Class-Oldenburg/Arabian mare Waldemar-Hanoverian gelding Illusive Legacy-Miniature filly

02-22-2006, 11:09 AM	#8
prettyqtrs Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 3,112	We always use straw. Often times we will put a thin layer of wood shavings down first (to help absorb) and then heavily bed the stall with clean straw. Last edited by prettyqtrs; 02-22-2006 at 01:19 PM.

02-22-2006, 11:48 AM	#9
Sandra-A1 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,542 Images: 236	We use both..... shavings on bottom with a thick straw layer on top. I find that having shavings on the bottom helps with absorbency. Bedding the foaling stall this way works really well for us. __________________ "It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Dumbledore

02-23-2006, 10:20 PM	#10
Solsalia Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,031 Images: 136 Blog Entries: 7	I thought about the shavings on bottom and straw on top. First time for a mare I own to foal and I'm boarding her at a barn... first time also boarding at a barn. They use shavings only but said if I insisted on straw for her delivery they would do it. I just feel better about it (as long as it's not moldy) for the foal to be delivered on.

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