Straw has traditionally been used for horse bedding in the UK for centuries now. But why? Well, one may argue there are many reasons, some of which include: being widely available; easy to muck out; cheaper than other bedding alternatives, and providing a warm comfortable bed for your horses. This all sounds great, but straw bedding has many disadvantages that aren’t so pleasant. In this article by P.H. Winterson & Sons, we’ll take you through the disadvantages and explain why other bedding alternatives such as shavings are better than straw bedding. After reading this, the chances are, you’ll want to consider switching your horse’s bedding! Dust and Mould Straw bedding is a byproduct of harvested cereal grain crops such as wheat, oats, and bailey. Similar to hay, a bale of straw needs to be regularly checked for mould or moisture. Depending on the quality, it can be quite dusty. Mouldy or dusty straw shouldn’t be used as bedding because it can cause respiratory problems for you and your horses. If your horse or you suffer from respiratory issues such as asthma, straw is not a suitable type of bedding. Whereas, shavings are a safer, dust, and mould free alternative. Horses Can Eat Their Bedding Some horses are tempted to eat their straw bedding. This problem leads to using more straw bedding than needed, which can be costly. There are many debates about how safe straw is for horses to eat. However, straw is a low-quality forage and if eaten in large quantities, it could impact colic (abdominal pain) which could be life-threatening for horses. On the other hand, shavings are inedible so horses won’t be tempted, they are used for bedding purposes only, and they have significantly lower health risks. Difficult To Muck Out Straw is non-absorbent, which is one of the main purposes of horse bedding. Because it’s lightweight, it’s more difficult to control the dust particles when moved around and put down as bedding. Straw bedding waste is bulky, and rarely odourless. The muck heap tends to be larger, heavier to pick up, and dispose of. For this reason, it’s much easier to muck out shavings than straw. Equine Bedding from P.H. Winterson & Son At P.H....
Read Moreabout The Disadvantages of Straw Bedding for HorsesEveryone loves to relax, sleep and dream in comfort and so does your horse! At P.H. Winterton & Sons, we are a family business delivering premium quality equine bedding to our customers for their equine friends. If you’re looking for new bedding, this article is for you. Let’s go through the best types of bedding we offer.. Cheshire Choice Our high-quality Cheshire Choice equine bedding is made to give excellent results. Did you know this is one of the only horse beddings in Staffordshire that is made from 100% soft wood shavings? Allowing extreme comfort for your horse, while at the same time lasting longer than traditional shavings. Their high absorption levels means you save more new bedding when mucking out the stables. This unique bedding has a temperature adjusting ability, keeping your horses warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Perfect to use all year round! We keep you and your horse’s health in mind so our bedding is free from chemicals and dust to prevent allergies, illness and respiratory problems. Economy-Bale Our Economy-Bale equine bedding is our more affordable and economical bedding choice that still provides premium quality results. This is one of the most affordable equine bedding in Staffordshire and is also double dust extracted which means shavings won’t cause unwanted respiratory problems for you or your horses. The shavings are a mixture of both hardwood and softwood, so it’s easy to muck out your stable, they can also be used in combination with rubber mats. Zebra Fibre Our newest addition to the range, our Zebra Fibre animal bedding can be used for both the agricultural and equine industries. It provides comfort, superb absorption levels, and leaves minimal wastage while mucking out. Switching your bedding to Zebra Fibre means happy animals all around! Equine Bedding at P.H. Winterton & Sons We can proudly say that choosing our equine bedding will be the best decision you make for a boost of comfort and happiness for your horses. If your horses are happy, we are certainly happy! For more information on any of our ranges, please get in touch today. ...
Read Moreabout What’s The Best Bedding For My Horse?When it comes to bedding for your horses, you will want to ensure they have the very best sleeping conditions possible. Your horse’s rest and recuperation is essential in helping them to fulfil their required daily activities. This is perhaps why so many horse owners opt for our very own brilliant wood shavings as their primary horse bedding option. While bedding is undoubtedly a key factor in ensuring your horse has high quality sleeping conditions, there are also other touches you can implement. On average, your horse spends 12-15 hours a day in their stable, a significant portion of which they spend lying down, so ensuring they are in the best conditions possible is extremely important. At P.H.Winterton, your trusted supplier of equine bedding from Staffordshire, we pride ourselves on supplying you with appropriate and useful information. As a direct result of this, you can use the information to ensure your horse has the best sleeping conditions. Clean and Dry Bedding In our previous blogs, we have frequently detailed the importance of ensuring animal bedding is clean, dry and comfortable. While this seems quite obvious, it must be said nonetheless. If your horse senses that the bedding is wet, they will not lie down and go to sleep on it. Furthermore, if the bedding is unclean, not only will your horses be less likely to lay down, it can also open the door to potential infections or the accumulation of other harmful bacteria. Wet and dirty bedding is a literal hotbed for germs and viruses. If your horse does happen to acquire a virus, this can be problematic to say the least. As such, you should do everything in your power to ensure this never occurs in the first place. Efficient Coverage If you are using our high quality shavings for your equine bedding, you will want to ensure that there is enough of the shavings all over the stable area. Industry experts advise that you need a covering of at least 15 to 20 cm, or 6 to 8 inches, in order to properly cover the stable floor. Efficient coverage is essential when it comes to your horse’s comfort and enjoyment. It is highly recommended to not have...
Read Moreabout The Best Equine Bedding ConditionsBiomass fuel encompasses a number of materials that include wood and other agricultural residues. The materials in question can be used for heating buildings and to a lesser extent, for producing power. Biomass can also, if required, produce a combination of heat and power, which only further illustrates it’s efficiency and all round usefulness. On the other hand, biomass systems require more operator information than other forms of renewable energy such as solar or wind and a small amount of maintenance plus an annual inspection and cleaning means the system can provide heating when needed. Additionally, biomass combustion produces emissions that have to be monitored to make sure they comply with government regulations. While these are only slight caveats, there is little question that biomass systems are more than fit for purpose. Because biomass systems are so popular and because there is sometimes a slight trepidation when it comes to making the switch, we thought it good to touch on the various components of a biomass fuel system. What Are The Different Parts of a Biomass System? There are a number of key components to a biomass system which includes the following – Fuel storage and handling or conveying Combustor Boiler Fire suppression systems Pumps Fans Exhaust controls System controls Automatic ash handling (optional feature) Back up boiler Heat distribution system All biomass systems require storage for fuel as well as a way of handling the fuel. Systems that use wood chips or pellets will be stored in silos or a bunker with an automated system that moves fuel from the storage area to the combustion area. PH Winterton recommends that storage areas hold a minimum of three days of fuel at all times. The day hopper is the last part of the fuel handling system and controls the rate at which the fuel is delivered to the boiler. Wood pellet or log systems the heat created by the boiler can be used to directly heat the air or used to heat water, acting as a medium by which the heat is delivered. Fire suppression systems help to prevent fire from the combustor travelling back up the conveyor system where fuel is stored. This type of system can also...
Read Moreabout What Are The Main Components of Biomass Fuel Boilers?At P.H.Winterton, we provide high quality soft-dust and economy bale wood shavings which are used for our premium poultry bedding. If you have chickens and you use our high quality bedding, you understand that premium shavings are by far the best choice of beddings for your chickens when it comes to comfort and practicality. This being said, sometimes chickens are seemingly unaware of the apparent comfort awaiting in their nest box. As such, you might need to use certain techniques to encourage your chickens to take to their clearly beneficial bedding. Being a quality purveyor of poultry bedding in Staffordshire, we understand a few different techniques to encourage your chickens to take to their bedding. Add Fake Eggs To The Nest We start with potentially the most unusual technique, and that is by adding an egg to the nest. Eggs already in the nest encourage your chickens by showcasing that the bed is comfy and accepting as there has already been a chicken laying an egg there. Some people find that using a golf ball or another similarly sized oval shaped object works well enough at fooling your chicken into thinking there is an egg in the nest already. However, some people find that only a more life-like egg will be serviceable. Ceramic fake eggs can be purchased and used for this exact purpose. Just be sure to label your fake eggs as you do not get your fake and real ones confused. Block Your Chickens From Laying Eggs Outside of The Nest If adding fake eggs to the nest does not work for you, you might decide to adopt a more forward approach. Your chickens might start to use certain places to lay their eggs and subsequently use that place as their bedding. For example, they might have identified a certain shrub or bush they have taken a liking to. It will then become paramount to block access to this area. If you remove access to this area, they will have no other option than to use the previously laid out bedding. Regular Clean The Bedding At P.H Winterton, we enjoy singing the praises of appropriate and sufficient bedding cleaning. The best comparison we could possibly make is...
Read Moreabout Encouraging Your Chickens To Use Their Poultry Bedding