Horse bedding pellets

[Squawkers]

Stove wood pellets are often made from many kinds of leftover wood, versus horse bedding pellets which are made with pine only. Horse bedding pellets are also less dusty when they break down amd are more absorbant.

That’s helpful!

 

[WingItRanch]

@Squawkers check out this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...coop-bedding-does-it-work-im-curious.1637179/

I use pine pellets in my covered run and love it. When I first used it, a couple of them picked up pieces to check out but quickly spit it out. I've never had an issue with them confusing it with their pellet feed.

 

[Squawkers]

@Squawkers check out this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...coop-bedding-does-it-work-im-curious.1637179/

I use pine pellets in my covered run and love it. When I first used it, a couple of them picked up pieces to check out but quickly spit it out. I've never had an issue with them confusing it with their pellet feed.

Thanks!! That’s perfect! My exact questions!

 

[avjudge]

Stove wood pellets are often made from many kinds of leftover wood, versus horse bedding pellets which are made with pine only. Horse bedding pellets are also less dusty when they break down and are more absorbant.

It depends. The pellets I buy tell me what they contain. I have all-northern hardwood (from Quebec) for the stove I also have all-“local” softwood pellets from New Brunswick, labeled for stoves but sold by my farm store for bedding. I have been using the latter in place of Tractor Supply horse bedding in my litter boxes, and I like it better. It absorbs better and takes longer to smell.

 

[Vanillabean]

I am think about switching to this bedding and wondered what people thought. My main concern is that the chickens will eat them (I know chickens are going to taste any bedding, I mean eat a lot of it) they look a lot like pelleted chicken food, so that makes me wonder if they would confuse them. The picture I saw had no size reference though, so maybe they’re huge and no concern there. I know a lot of people use them, so obviously that isn’t really common. It was just something that I wanted to double check. Also, my coop is about 4x6’ about how many coopfulls would I get out of one 40lbs bag? Thanks!!!

@Debbie292d

I’ve used these pellets without incident, it’s what I have underneath the water area. All of the chickens tasted the pellets when I first poured them out, and promptly decided it was not food.

 

[chickiemomy]

I heard of concerns regarding chickens eating the bedding pellets. So let me comfort your mind some. Chickens do choose what they want to eat by taste.
How do I know
When I was at the farm store,, I purchased my Regular ALFlock pellets, and also got some Rabbit Pellets, as well as All Stock pellets.
The rabbit pellets, are intended for Rabbits. The AllStock, is intended for any animal you may have on your farm.
So I offered dishes of the Rabbit pellets, and the AllStock pellets to my chickens.
Chickens totally refused the Rabbit food. They nibbled slightly on the AllStock pellets,, but only when they ran out of Chicken pellets.

So conclusion is.... If it does not taste good to chicken,, they don't eat it.
I also have some of the horse pellet bedding. I use it in my Kitty Litter boxes. This way, I dump the contents into compost area.

I use Hay for my coop bedding. Often during summer, I will dry my grass clippings, and use those.

So if you go with the Horse pellets,, Place a layer of an Inch on floor. Use a kitty litter scoop, to scoop out the gumdrops. Your pellets will last surprisingly long.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

one concern I never see mentioned when using pellets - but one that I have personally experienced, is the danger to other animals - specifically dogs. My dogs love chicken poop, I mean who doesn't... when I used pellets for chicks one year, I had a bucket of semi-soiled pellets sitting outside, to be disposed of, when one of my dogs, unseen by me, decided to take a slurp. He later developed a serious obstruction that required surgery to take care of. We couldn't figure out what was wrong, he nearly died, until the vet found a substance similar to 'sawdust' clogging the outflow from his stomach.. I figured out it was the pellets -- $2000 later, he did survive, but it was a close call. I have not seen anyone else post about this - but I do like to warn folks, because it was certainly preventable. I never used pellets again. But to your question, my chickens were never harmed by their usage.

 

[Squawkers]

one concern I never see mentioned when using pellets - but one that I have personally experienced, is the danger to other animals - specifically dogs. My dogs love chicken poop, I mean who doesn't... when I used pellets for chicks one year, I had a bucket of semi-soiled pellets sitting outside, to be disposed of, when one of my dogs, unseen by me, decided to take a slurp. He later developed a serious obstruction that required surgery to take care of. We couldn't figure out what was wrong, he nearly died, until the vet found a substance similar to 'sawdust' clogging the outflow from his stomach.. I figured out it was the pellets -- $2000 later, he did survive, but it was a close call. I have not seen anyone else post about this - but I do like to warn folks, because it was certainly preventable. I never used pellets again. But to your question, my chickens were never harmed by their usage.

Thank you! My dog likes chicken poop as well, I will definitely keep that in mind!!!

 

[cavemanrich]

one concern I never see mentioned when using pellets - but one that I have personally experienced, is the danger to other animals - specifically dogs. My dogs love chicken poop, I mean who doesn't... when I used pellets for chicks one year, I had a bucket of semi-soiled pellets sitting outside, to be disposed of, when one of my dogs, unseen by me, decided to take a slurp. He later developed a serious obstruction that required surgery to take care of. We couldn't figure out what was wrong, he nearly died, until the vet found a substance similar to 'sawdust' clogging the outflow from his stomach.. I figured out it was the pellets -- $2000 later, he did survive, but it was a close call. I have not seen anyone else post about this - but I do like to warn folks, because it was certainly preventable. I never used pellets again. But to your question, my chickens were never harmed by their usage.

Thank you! My dog likes chicken poop as well, I will definitely keep that in mind!!!

Good things to keep in mind about dogs. We need to keep an eye on them. I have seen dogs scratch up cat cigars as well.
Quite some time ago,, a friends dog ate a pair of panty hose. (in the house)
Yes,, a $2500 surgery was result.

 

[Vicker]

I did a trial run with bedding pellets after 20 years of large pine flakes. They didn't eat them, but I found them more difficult to deal with. I pile fairly deep bedding under the roost, scooping poop from the top as needed. The pellets broke down under the wetter spots and somehow seemed to create more dust. My coop is currently a large barn stall with rubber mats over a concrete floor. The pellets rolled under my feet, making it kind of slippery. I also found the pellets didn't control the odor like flakes. Flakes are also more economical.

 

[Squawkers]

I did a trial run with bedding pellets after 20 years of large pine flakes. They didn't eat them, but I found them more difficult to deal with. I pile fairly deep bedding under the roost, scooping poop from the top as needed. The pellets broke down under the wetter spots and somehow seemed to create more dust. My coop is currently a large barn stall with rubber mats over a concrete floor. The pellets rolled under my feet, making it kind of slippery. I also found the pellets didn't control the odor like flakes. Flakes are also more economical.

Thank you!!