Does anyone use shredded paper bedding?

[Spirit of Wales]

As title, I'm looking into trying shredded paper as bedding and wondered if anyone used it and could you answer these questions..

1) Is shredded paper bedding good?

2) Is it heavy to move when soiled?

3) Is it dusty?

4) Does it decompose on the muck heap well (not turn into paper mashe)?

5) How much does it cost to buy?

6) Where do you purchase it from?

Any other information greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[pipgibson]

When i was in the UK i used to shred my own.. Newspaper's magazine etc..I found it very good mixed with shaving's and alittle straw..

If you do your own make sure all the staples are out..

Here in Spain as the shaving's are cheap Harly is on a full bed of them..

[midimoos]

i used to use it when i lived in surrey, my supplier was in kent, i would like to use it again but can not find a supplier in south wales. Its dust free and so much more absorbant than any other bedding i have ever used

[honey]

we moved all our lot onto paper bedding this year as couldn't keep up with the cost of shavings. We brought a good second hand office duty paper shredder at a cost of £120 and i collect newspapers from two local newsagents that would other wise be throwing them in the bin. i have four on it and i wouldn't go back to shavings, as our lot are very wet and dirty, im finding that the paper bed is a lot dryer than shavings. As its free we can shred as much or as little as we need as long as paper is there, about an hour of shredding gives me enough paper to bed them fro about 3 days so i just do some everynight and stock pile it. im finding it very warm not dusty and when it is soiled it is much lighter than shavings to move, it decomposes alot quicker on the dung heap and the paper bedding muck heap is much easier to get rid of as it doesn't burn the grass like shavings and farmers are more willing to remove it and spread it over the field. I worked out im saving about £40 a week on bedding so a month and the shredder paid for it self. the beds are much cleaner as i top them up every other day so always fresh going in as being lifted which especially suits our big mare that can destroy a bed in a night. That is one thing with paper is you have to lift out plenty and put nin plenty but if its free thats not a problem. i also find its not dusty and i find that the finer cut paper is much better we used a cross cut shredder so the pieces are pretty fine.

[sazjayp]

The only problem I had was with it blowing around and the farmer who's land I was on didn't like the "look" of it!

If you approach a large local company, they may be happy for you take their shreddings for free - I used to take the paper waste from my company - huge bags for free!

[ruthp]

I have a friend who uses it to very good effect. She collects shredded paper from a local office who just give it to her by the bag load. Worth asking local offices if you're interested as you've nothing to lose and might just get your bedding for the cost of picking it up.

[happysnail]

Brilliant stuff on it's own or mixed with straw. Very absorbent, not dusty and composts well. It does stand out visually a lot more than straw, shavings, pellets etc.

[Furiey]

I used to tear my own from newspaper around 30 years ago. Stopped using it as it froze when wet in the winter, went to paper mache in the muck heap, and the allotment holders didn't want it for their allotments as the paper blew everywhere so we couldn't dispose of it. We ended up having to burn it which just became too much. Proper finer shredded stuff may of course be much easier - I do know one horse who ate it though, but some will go for anything!

[KoLaTo]

Not shredded paper but did use cross cut newspaper for a while when my small lad had some lung troubles.

1) Is shredded paper bedding good? I liked it, nice warm bed but you need it very deep, it fluffs up so much that it looks really deep until you shove the fork in.

2) Is it heavy to move when soiled? No heavier than any other bedding

3) Is it dusty? Not at all

4) Does it decompose on the muck heap well (not turn into paper mashe)? Mine did very well, much quicker than other bedding

5) How much does it cost to buy? I only paid £2.75-3.25 a 20kg bale dependant on how much i bought at the time.

6) Where do you purchase it from? A local place who made it specifically for horse bedding for racing stables, M1 nr Luton, Herts but they deliver nationwide.

Ultimately i did like it but went back to other bedding when neds lungs recovered as it's easier for me to have them all on the same thing.

[Mellymoo]

I use paper when I get it from work, and I used to buy it in 30kg sacks for about £3 a go but I lost the supplier's details. It is easy to muck out and not dusty, but I am back on shavings as I can get them easily. I would use paper if I could find my local man's details again!

[marvin]

I use it sometimes mixed with straw I put it at the bottom as its very absorbant make my own or collect papers from others have access to a large office shredder...will also check from my work too didnt think of that doh..