Royal Wood Shavings 100% Pine Wood Pellet Bedding

Wood pellet bedding consists of kiln-dried pine compressed into small, dense pellets. When exposed to moisture, the pellets absorb liquid and break apart into soft, fluffy sawdust that forms a dry, cushioned surface. This process is what gives pellet bedding its superior absorption—up to four times its own weight in liquid, far exceeding traditional straw or loose shavings. The compressed format also means each bag covers more floor area than an equivalent weight of loose bedding because the pellets expand as they absorb moisture. Pine pellets naturally suppress odours through the wood’s antimicrobial properties without the need for chemical additives or perfumes. This makes them suitable for horse stalls, poultry coops, livestock pens, and small animal enclosures where air quality and moisture control are priorities.

Pine wood pellet bedding is safe and effective for a wide range of animals. Horses benefit from the dust-free formula that protects against respiratory conditions like heaves (recurrent airway obstruction), and the high absorption keeps hooves dry to prevent thrush. Poultry producers use pellet bedding in coops and brooders because it controls ammonia levels that can damage birds’ respiratory systems and cause bumblefoot. Cattle and goats benefit from drier stall floors that reduce hoof infections and mastitis risk. Small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters do well on pine pellets since the kiln-drying process removes the volatile phenols that can be harmful in raw pine shavings. The only common exception is reptiles that require specific humidity levels—consult a veterinarian for species-specific bedding recommendations.

For a standard 3 × 3,6 m (10 × 12 foot) horse stall, start with approximately 5 to 6 bags to create an initial base layer of 7 to 10 cm depth. Spread the pellets evenly across the stall floor, then lightly mist with water using a garden sprayer or hose to activate the expansion—the pellets will break down into a soft, absorbent bed within a few hours. After the initial setup, daily maintenance requires only 1 to 2 scoops of fresh pellets added to wet spots after removing soiled bedding. Most horse owners find they use roughly one bag per stall per week for topping up, which is significantly less volume than straw or loose shavings. For poultry coops, use a 5 to 8 cm layer and follow the deep litter method, stirring weekly and adding fresh pellets as needed.

Daily stall maintenance with pellet bedding is faster than with straw or shavings because the soiled material is easy to identify—wet pellets turn into dark, clumped sawdust while dry pellets remain intact and light-coloured. Use a fine-tined pitchfork or pellet-specific sifting fork to remove manure piles and the darkened wet sawdust underneath, leaving the dry pellets in place. Add 1 to 2 scoops of fresh pellets to the cleaned areas and spread evenly. Once a week, use a flat shovel to turn the entire bed, bringing dry material from the edges to the centre where moisture accumulates most. With this routine, a full stall strip and rebuild is typically needed only every 4 to 6 weeks rather than the weekly strip many straw users require. Bank dry bedding against the walls during cleaning to minimize waste.

Royal Wood Shavings pine pellets are manufactured through a process that compresses kiln-dried pine under high pressure, which effectively binds fine particles into the pellet structure. This produces a bedding with dramatically less airborne dust than loose shavings, straw, or hay—making it one of the best options for horses diagnosed with heaves (recurrent airway obstruction) or inflammatory airway disease. However, no bedding is absolutely zero-dust. The moment pellets break down into sawdust after absorbing moisture, some fine particles will become airborne during mucking. To minimize exposure for sensitive horses, dampen fresh pellets during setup, muck out while the horse is turned out rather than standing in the stall, and ensure the barn has adequate ventilation. If your horse has a diagnosed respiratory condition, discuss bedding choices with your veterinarian.

Pine wood pellets are highly effective at controlling ammonia in poultry coops, which is especially critical during Quebec winters when coops are closed up for months and ventilation is reduced to conserve heat. The pellets’ 4x absorption capacity locks urine and moisture into the sawdust matrix, while the natural phenolic compounds in pine actively inhibit the bacterial processes that convert nitrogen in droppings into ammonia gas. For best results in winter, maintain a deep litter layer of 8 to 10 cm and stir the bedding every 3 to 5 days to incorporate fresh droppings and expose dry material. Add a thin layer of fresh pellets weekly on top. If you can smell ammonia at bird height (about 30 cm above the floor), the litter is too wet or too thin and needs immediate attention—ammonia above 25 ppm damages poultry respiratory tissue and suppresses egg production.

Each bedding type has distinct strengths and trade-offs for animal housing:

• Wood pellets (this product)—highest absorption (4x weight), lowest dust, best ammonia control, compact storage, compostable; costs more per bag but lasts longer and produces less waste volume than alternatives
• Straw—traditional and widely available, provides good insulation in cold weather, but absorbs poorly compared to pellets, produces significant dust, and requires more frequent full stall changes; best for deep bedding pack systems in cattle barns
• Loose wood shavings—good absorption and comfortable for horses, but bulkier to store, generates more dust than pellets, and decomposes more slowly in compost piles

For horse owners managing respiratory health, poultry keepers controlling ammonia, or anyone wanting to minimize manure volume, wood pellets offer the best overall performance per dollar spent.

F.G. Edwards stocks Royal Wood Shavings pine pellet bedding at both locations in West Brome and Bedford, along with a full selection of animal bedding options including loose shavings and straw. One of the biggest advantages of pine pellet bedding is what happens after use: the spent sawdust-and-manure mixture composts significantly faster than straw bedding because the small particle size provides more surface area for microbial decomposition. Pile used bedding in a designated compost area, maintain moisture similar to a wrung-out sponge, and turn every 2 to 3 weeks. Well-managed pine pellet compost can be ready for garden use in 3 to 6 months—excellent as a soil amendment or mulch. Our team can help you choose the right bedding for your barn setup and animal needs.