Using Silva Crumb
Everything you need to know about using Silva Crumb bedding
Bags required
Start with a clean empty stable. We recommend between 6 to 7 bags to initially prepare a good sized 12’ x 12’ stable (approximately 3.5m x 3.5m). Fewer bags can be used if the stable also has rubber matting or is smaller.
Lay the bags flat on the stable floor and cut the bags open diagonally corner to corner.
Activation
Using clean water to activate the dried pellets, add approximately 5 litres or around 1/4 to 1/3 of a bucket of water, tipping it carefully over the pellets into each open bag.
Leave the wetted bags for around 15 minutes for the moisture to activate with the dried pellets which will then expand into a friable crumb material.
Making the bed
After approximately 15 minutes tip out the bedding crumb onto the stable floor and spread evenly with a shovel or fine tined fork to form a bed area.
If applying on top of rubber matting this can be thinner but we typically recommend a bed depth of around 4” or approximately 10cm to offer comfort and support for your horse.
Daily & weekly management
Daily
using a fine tined fork, sieve through and remove only manure solids incorporating and mixing any wet patches into the existing dry bedding. After time any particularly wet spots can be removed from the bed with a fine tined fork. Fresh pellets can be added to wet spots using the same activation method, or, if there are any particularly wet spots within the stable, pellets can be added straight from the bag without pre-wetting to increase absorbency.
Weekly
Each week or as necessary add between 1 to 2 bags of activated pellets. If preferred you can add extra without pre-wetting to keep the bed topped as waste is removed