During the warm months, a hose runs from the house all the way out to the donks. But in the winter, water gets carted out to the shed using buckets and a sled.
Yes, it is high-tech methodology, but... it works.
So, when the demo illustrated sprinkling the pellets with a hose, I gave pause. Hmmm... Talked to Rick about it, and he was immediately pessimistic about the workability.
However, last week I saw Tractor Supply had bags of the pellets on sale and I couldn't resist getting just a couple for test purposes.
I haven't thought it prudent to try my test yet with these dreadfully cold temps still hanging around, but I'm hoping to soon.
My plan is to dump part of the bag into one of the 5-gallon buckets and use the sled to take out another bucket full of water. I'm assuming a full bag of pellets may be too much volume for the shed, but I could be wrong.
That's why it's called a t-e-s-t.
The shavings are what I've used the past two winters after I gave up on straw.
I'll report back in after the pellets vs. shavings test.
I'll be interested to hear about the pellets. I have never used them, they seem like they would be uncomfortable to lay on, but I didn't know they were supposed to be wet. I guess they would dissolve a bit that way.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the straw though, I feed it to mine in an attempt to lower their weight as it is lower in calories and energy than hay and higher in fiber, all of which is good for donkeys. The donkey sanctuary feeds their donkeys pure barley straw with no hay. I can't get enough of it to do that so I mix them and use the leftovers as bedding.
According to the videos, once watered the pellets are light, fluffy and highly absorbent.
DeleteThat is a cute little sled you use to transport water buckets, etc.. Good idea. Of course, we will probably never have that much snow.
ReplyDeleteHanging onto things has its advantages -- its from the bygone days of my 24-year old. :)
DeleteLet me know your results. I've used Equine Fresh pellets for a few years now with the girls.. love it. Had same issues as you with the straw :) When it's now terribly cold, 32 or above, I spread a full bag of pellets in the stall and pour a 2 gal h2o over them with my garden water sprinkler and watch the fluffing begin. I haven't tried shavings for donks, but use them with great success with my chix.
ReplyDeleteI need one of 'them there' sleds! Lots of hauling to do during the winter months. Smart!!
-Tammy p.s. I learned something else from you today - TSC has their own brand of equine pellets.. yippee.. thx!
Tammy, so you'd agree that trying the pellets in single digit temps would not be fruitful??
DeleteI meant "not" terribly cold. sheesh, i'm slipping.
ReplyDeleteI have miniature horses (2, elderly) and two mini donks. What I've found is that fir shavings if you can get them (fir sawdust rough cut not powdery) work best. I don't like pine because even though it smells heavenly the miniature horses will snack on it - they like the pine taste and can develop choke from the dry shavings getting saliva on it, swelling a bit too much to go down. So many fir sawdust/shavings producers quit packing the product because pine sells better at least that's the feed stores' excuse. I've been buying directly from a local mill that re-mills kiln dried lumber (in western Oregon where we are) and the shavings end up being perfect size, nice and dry and soft, and the right price because the mill would have to pay to dispose it otherwise not being a big enough mill to burn the byproduct for energy or resell to the pulp manufacturers. For some reason many equines and equids also love to eat straw although I can't imagine it's very tasty. I have tried pelleted bedding and absolutely do not like it and will never use it. My stalls are rubber mats over a packed clay floor - even so the pellets just scattered and some were actually accidently eaten along with the minis' hay. Definitely would never use them again no matter how cheap they get to be!
ReplyDeleteI'm all about the safest method but here in Texas I wouldn't have the faintest idea where to get fired shavings!
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