Shavings in compost

[Nicos]

Just wondered what the current thoughts are on adding shavings to a compost ?
When I took my BHSAI exams ( horsey stuff) 10 yrs ago ,we were told that shavings took several years to break down and would be much more difficult to give away/sell horse manure from stables using shavings instead of straw. You used to see mounds of shavings and horse muck bedding rotting away in corners of fields.
Something to do with the breakdown of the shavings using up nutrients from the soil.

What is the opinion these days???
Can anyone explain further- my Alzheimers seems to be taking over these days

[Capsid]

I'd add them but mix them up with the green stuff to try and speed things up. Hair can form a soggy mess in a big lump and it might get a bit anaerobic. It will take longer to rot so may need its own compost bin (with some green stuff), like leaf mould.

[Nicos]

Good idea Capsid- I'll make a compost esp for the chook bedding and droppings- and mix it with the ample leaves which have suddenly appeared!

Perhaps I should burn the main bedding to kill off red mite and add the ash to that compost

[PAULW]

NICOS
I am on quick drying sandy soil so to help slow down the draining process I have used muck and shavings in the following manner, dig out a trench about a spit deep fill trench with muck and shavings backfill with the soil, you still have a good depth of soil in which to grow stuff without touching the mixture.

[Nicos]

NICOS
I am on quick drying sandy soil so to help slow down the draining process I have used muck and shavings in the following manner, dig out a trench about a spit deep fill trench with muck and shavings backfill with the soil, you still have a good depth of soil in which to grow stuff without touching the mixture.

Ah ha!!!

Ground gets very dry here as there is little tree cover on the south side of the garden. It's already a bit acidic so I imagine the shavings would make it more so..BUT....perfect for blueberries I should think!? ( esp if well mulched)

[Kayt]

I've stopped using the manure mixed with shavings since someone asked if the shavings were from wood that had been treated with anything - wood preserver etc. Don't know if that could be the case but am a little wary now. Does anyone have any idea about this?

[Nicos]

If you buy pre packed shavings for horses and bunnies etc then it will have come direct from a saw mill and be natural shavings and dust from the cutting process.
However if you buy - or collect bagged stuff from a timber merchant then it will be leftovers from treated wood- and shouldn't be used for animals or plants.
I checked up on this a few years ago, so things shouldn't have changed. After all, they also supply chippings for paths and mulching and there should be a warning as a food hazard if they were from treated wood.
I thought shavings used up the nitrogen n the soil and was hoping someone on the Vine could clarify that??

[Capsid]

I'm a dolt! I thought you meant hair shavings from the horses. Doh! Of course, you mean wood shavings. Well, I use some for a guinea pig we keep and all of those shavings go in the compost bin and they make great compost IMO

[Nicos]

I'm a dolt! I thought you meant hair shavings from the horses. Doh! Of course, you mean wood shavings. IMO

Well it is that time of year to start clipping the horses ain't it??!!!


( I did wonder why you were nattering on about hair though..too polite to ask!!!!)

[Paulottie]

I have a joinery furniture business so am quite used to using shavings up! most oak etc. gets used for the paths at the lottie. Softwood is used as bedding for chickens and guinea pigs etc before going on the compost.... and the dusty rubbish and offcuts fuel the woodburner.

For use with horses it is usually softwood (ie pine) dust extracted and definately not treated as Nicos points out. It takes longer for anything with lignum (anything woody has tannins) to rot and it initially uses up available nitrogen in the process. However reasonable amount mixed in with composting horse manure and other stuff in a proper heap should be fine.