Bedding type for foaling

[Lucky-C-Acres-Minis]

We keep the mare on shavings until we know she is close to foaling, then we will leave some shavings as a base and put down plenty of straw.. I find straw a pain to muck out and it doesn't soak up the liquids/urine well, so leaving some shavings on the base helps in that area.. We'll keep the mare/foal on the straw for around 2-3 weeks before switching back to the shavings..

 

[Reble]

yes, straw for foaling.

 

[wiccanz]

Straw for me, but my preference is outside foaling. I'll only bring them in if the weather is playing up, or if there's a problem.

 

[MyBarakah]

Hi!

I use prarie hay since it's hard for me to find square bales of straw and it cost the same price so I have shavings on the bottom to soak up the urine (makes a big difference!) and then bed it very well on top with the prarie hay.

 

[Relic]

shavings on the rubber matts topped with a lot of clean straw.

 

[Wiggy]

A base of shavings... and then plenty of soft clean grass hay... I dont want any straw poking at eyes or nostrils... and find straw generally very dusty.

 

[Miniv]

DITTO to what Wiggy posted.......

MA

 

[KenBen]

We use straw with shavings on bottom over rubber belting. The foals love to snuggle down in the straw and sleep.Straw is a pain to clean out though.

KenBen

 

[kaykay]

we use shavings on the bottom with hay on top as too many of my mares will eat straw. we only use it for a couple days and then go back to shavings

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I do what Kay does we use shavings not woody pet in the foaling stalls then layer of grass hay over that and after a couple days they go back to shavings

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I only ever use straw as bedding- I have tried just about everything else and I do not like it.

Shavings are far too expensive and not as warm, ditto sawdust (woody pet etc) and I would never use hay as bedding.

I am lucky in that my straw is beautiful, squeaky clean, feed quality oat straw- although I prefer barley straw that was what I got delivered this year.

I do not find it hard to work with at all- and |I can get chopped straw if I want and I do use that for the trailer.

I do not like mats either- I find them very dirty!!

No, I'll stick to good old, traditional, straw- if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

 

[Magic]

I voted "other", since I use pelleted bedding until the mare is imminent to foal (except for a few wonderfully extremely neat mares that will only "go" on the pelleted area). Then I add plenty of straw. The pellets soak up all of the urine underneath the straw and make my stalls so much neater and cleaner. It depends on how cold it is as to when I switch from using straw back to shavings and pellets-- if it's cold, they get to keep the straw.

 

[mistyrose]

I find that a layer of peat moss covered with straw works best.

 

[Bluerocket]

I use equine fresh pelleted bedding - I intend to put a layer of grass hay or straw on top of the equine fresh when I think foaling is soon (within a few days) -- but you know how that goes don't you!