Choosing the right bedding for the chicken coop is essential for raising a healthy, happy backyard flock. The chicken coop needs to stay dry, clean, and smelling fresh to help prevent disease and illness in your flock. Chicken coop bedding, also called litter, plays a key role in maintaining a healthy chicken coop environment. The first litter that comes to mind may not be hemp bedding, but it is certainly one of the best options for the chicken coop litter! Let’s explore the benefits of hemp bedding for chickens!
What is Hemp Bedding?
Hemp chicken bedding is made from the hemp plant, specifically hemp hurd, which is the woody core of the hemp plant stalk. Hemp bedding has several features that make it ideal for using in the chicken coop.
It is known to be extremely absorbent and odor resistant, two qualities that are essential in chicken coop litter. Chicken coop litter must be absorbent in order to manage chicken poop effectively. It must also be odor resistant to keep ammonia fumes under control. Hemp bedding meets both requirements.
Hemp bedding is also all-natural and compostable, making it both easy and healthy to use in the chicken coop. Since hemp bedding is all-natural, it does not cause any health concerns for your flock or for the environment. Using a compostable bedding in the chicken coop makes the coop litter easier to manage and clean. When the bedding needs to be replaced, you can easily turn it into rich compost for your garden!
Lastly, hemp bedding is a soft and comfortable bedding for chickens to walk on. Chicken coop litter must be soft and cushiony to help prevent foot and leg injuries. An adequate layer of hemp bedding on the chicken coop floor can make for comfortable footing for your flock to walk on and cushion their landing when they fly down from roosts or nests. Your hens will also love it in their nesting boxes!
How Hemp Bedding is Made
The hemp plant is a stout, aromatic herb that is native to central Asia. It is an annual crop that is grown worldwide and used for many industrial purposes. It has slender cane-like stalks that are hollow except for at the tip and the base of the stalk. The plant has compound leaves that are palmate in shape with small yellow-green flowers. Hemp plants have different flowers that produce either seeds or pollen.
Hemp chicken bedding is made by putting the hemp plant through a specific process of harvesting, retting, and breaking the hemp stalks. Here’s a simple breakdown of the hemp bedding process:
- Harvesting
- Retting
- Drying
- Breaking
- Compressing
First, the fibers are harvested soon after the plant reaches maturity, which is when the flower blossoms are full and mature. The stalks are cut off close to the base of the plant and then gathered for ‘retting’.
Retting is when piles of the hemp stalks are allowed to naturally decompose to break down the chemical bond in the stalks. The stalks are also allowed to dry until their moisture content is at least 15% reduced. Then the stalks are baled and sent to be processed.
To process the dry stalks into hemp bedding, they must be put through a decorticator, which breaks off dried pieces of the hemp stalks and separates the fibers. This is done by passing the stalks under fluted rollers that break the woody core of the stalk into short pieces, called hurds. The hurds are then compressed into ‘bricks’ that expand when broken apart, much like wood shaving bales.
So, when you buy hemp bedding for the chicken coop, the hemp stalks have been harvested, dried, retted, shredded, and compressed for easy and effective use in the chicken coop!
Why Choose Hemp Bedding Over Alternatives?
There are many other chicken coop litter options to choose from, including straw, wood shavings, and sand. Each litter has its benefits and drawbacks. When it comes to hemp bedding, this litter seems to combine all the benefits of the other litters into one effective, sustainable litter option for the chicken coop!
Here are some ways that hemp bedding stands out from other litter options:
- Reduces respiratory irritation by being dust-free
- Hyper absorbent with better absorbency rates than straw or wood shavings
- Economical, doesn’t have to be replaced as often as straw or wood shavings
- Biodegrades into rich compost that contains nitrogen, carbon, and other nutrients that boost soil health
- Sustainably grown & harvested
- Prevents ammonia fumes by being odor absorbent
- Good thermal rating for being cool in the summer and insulating in the winter
- No added chemicals or pesticides
- Naturally repels pests, parasites, and mold
Straw vs Hemp Bedding
Straw is best known to be an insulating and compostable litter for the chicken coop. However, hemp bedding is more absorbent than straw and can be insulating too. Hemp bedding is a better option than straw during the summer months since it has a high thermal rating, making it ideal for preventing excess heat from building up in the coop. Straw can also contain harmful chemicals or insecticides whereas sustainably grown hemp bedding is chemical-free.
Wood Shavings vs Hemp Bedding
Wood shavings are a popular chicken coop litter since they are absorbent, easy to acquire, and easy to manage. However, wood shavings are often not harvested using sustainable methods and they tend to be dusty. Wood shavings can also contain chemicals or wood treatments that can be harmful for the environment. Hemp bedding is more absorbent than wood shavings and it is sustainably harvested, less dusty, and chemical free.
Sand vs Hemp Bedding
Sand is a litter option often chosen for its longevity of use. However, it does require frequent cleaning since it is not biodegradable. Sand can also be dusty and may contain chemicals. Hemp bedding is superior to sand in its ability to absorb moisture and remain dust free. Hemp bedding is more insulating than sand during the winter months and it is easily compostable.
Hemp Bedding Benefits
Superior Absorbency
Hemp bedding has a superior absorbency rate compared to wood shavings or straw. Hemp bedding can absorb up to 4x its weight in moisture. It has a 400% absorbency rate compared to wood shavings that have a 250% absorbency rate.
A highly absorbent litter is essential for preventing damp litter and controlling the moisture naturally present in chicken poop. By absorbing moisture, hemp bedding can prevent harmful bacteria and pathogens from developing in damp litter. It also helps control ammonia fumes since it dries out fecal matter and its porous nature lowers ammonia fumes in the air.
Since hemp bedding is highly absorbent, it doesn’t have to be replaced as often as wood shavings or straw would need to be. A layer of hemp bedding will last longer than a similar layer of wood shavings when used as litter in the chicken coop. This makes hemp bedding an economical choice as you don’t have to buy as many bales of hemp bedding compared to wood shavings or straw bales.
Dust and Allergen Reduction
Hemp bedding is a low dust litter option for the chicken coop. Chickens naturally produce dust themselves, so using a litter that doesn’t contribute to the dust is essential for managing dust in the chicken coop. Dust can cause respiratory irritation and reduces air quality in the coop, so choosing a dust-free litter can reduce the chance of respiratory issues related to poor coop litter management.
Since hemp bedding is dust-free, it also makes an ideal chicken coop litter for those who have allergies or respiratory issues. A dust-free litter makes cleaning the chicken coop much easier and healthier for you! Hemp bedding is a good option for those allergic to leaf mold, pine, or straw.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable
Hemp bedding is a sustainable litter to use in the chicken coop. You may not think about the impact that coop litter has on the environment, but in fact, many of the more popular coop litter options have a high environmental impact in the way that they are grown or harvested.
Since hemp is an annual crop, it is an easily renewable resource. Unlike the trees needed to make wood shavings, hemp is an easy crop to grow that does not require much water or land. Hemp is fast growing and does not contribute to deforestation issues. Unlike straw, it does not require herbicides or pesticides since it naturally repels pests.
Processing the hemp plant into hemp bedding has a low environmental impact since it does not produce a lot of waste and it helps lower greenhouse gas emissions. Hemp bedding can be used in the chicken coop for longer periods of time because of its superior absorbency, so a little hemp bedding goes a long way. When it needs to be cleaned out, the old bedding can be composted and used to improve the soil around your yard or in your garden!
Hemp bedding is an excellent chicken coop litter choice for eco-conscious chicken owners who want to choose sustainable options for their flock.
Longevity and Cost-Effectiveness
Another factor that makes hemp bedding stand out from other chicken coop litter is its longevity. Since hemp bedding is extremely absorbent and naturally low in dust, the bedding does not need to be replaced as frequently as straw or wood shavings. This can save you both time and money!
Like wood shavings, hemp bedding comes in bales. When opened, the bales expand to cover a certain amount of cubic feet. Hemp bedding is very compact. One bale of hemp bedding can often be used in place of several bales of wood shavings. Even though hemp bedding bales may be more expensive than wood shaving bales, you need fewer bales of hemp to cover the same amount of space that you normally would with wood shavings. Also, since the bedding lasts longer, you don’t have to buy replacement bales as frequently.
Hemp bedding has a natural tendency to clump together when it absorbs moisture. This makes removing high concentrations of feces easy without having to remove a lot of bedding. You can just shovel out the highly moisturized area and add a little replacement bedding instead of changing out the whole coop litter.
In the long run, hemp bedding is an economical chicken coop litter that will save you both time and money when it comes to keeping the chicken coop clean and fresh!
Enhanced Comfort for Chickens
Hemp bedding isn’t just beneficial for the chicken keeper—it's also quite beneficial for chickens. Hemp hurds are soft and not abrasive. They can help prevent foot injuries and are easy for chickens to walk on. In fact, hemp hurds can even help your chickens keep their feet cleaner as the hurds gently rub over the bottoms of the chickens’ feet and clean off debris.
Hemp bedding has a high thermal rating, which means it is a suitable litter for both the summer and winter months. It has a low bulk density that helps keep the coop cool during the summer and warm during the winter. Hemp bedding is naturally insulating and compostable, so it makes an excellent choice for using with the deep litter method during the winter months.
Hemp bedding is also good for your flock’s health! It naturally repels parasites and it prevents disease by keeping fecal moisture from building up in the chicken coop. It also controls ammonia fumes and is dust free, both of which are contributing factors to respiratory issues in backyard flocks.
Hemp bedding is not only great for the coop floor, but it can also be used in the nesting boxes! It is soft and easy for hens to nest with. Nesting boxes that contain soft, comfortable litter are more appealing for hens. Hemp nesting box litter creates a relaxing and comfortable environment that keeps hen stress-free and encourages laying in the nesting boxes. Hemp litter can also help keep the eggs cleaner and prevent eggs from cracking when they hit a hard nesting box surface.
Using litter in the chicken coop that is comfortable for your flock will keep them both healthier and happier. Healthy chickens will be less stressed and more productive.
How to Use Hemp Bedding in Your Chicken Coop
You can use hemp bedding in your chicken coop just like you would any other litter! It is super easy to spread into the chicken coop and it is a low maintenance litter. Your flock will quickly adjust to the soft, comfortable litter. Here’s a basic checklist on getting started with hemp litter:
- Clean out old litter
- Sweep/vacuum/disinfect coop
- Spread hemp bedding
- Regular litter maintenance
All you need to do to prepare the chicken coop for hemp bedding is to clean out any old litter. Hemp litter can be used on dirt floor coops or solid floor coops. Given its compostable nature, hemp bedding will compost faster in dirt floor coops versus when used in solid floor coops. If your coop is really dirty, you may want to sweep, vacuum, and disinfect the coop floor and walls before adding fresh hemp bedding. After disinfecting the coop, allow it to air dry completely before adding the hemp bedding.
Once the coop is ready for litter, take a bale of hemp bedding and open it in the chicken coop. Toss or kick the bedding around to help it fluff out and expand. During the summer months, you will want a bedding layer that is about 3-4" thick. During the winter, add more litter to make a layer that is closer to 6-8" thick for good insulating abilities.
When your flock first steps into their newly bedded chicken coop they may hesitate at the new texture. However, chickens are naturally curious and they will quickly adjust to the soft hemp bedding. There is nothing abrasive or hard about hemp hurds, so your chickens will soon realize there is nothing to fear from the new coop bedding.
Now that you have hemp bedding in your chicken coop, there are just a few minor management tasks to do routinely so the hemp bedding lasts its longest. It is a good idea to stir the hemp litter on a weekly basis. Your chickens can help with this if you toss some grubs into the litter every evening. Alternatively, use a small rake to fluff up the litter once a week. Turning the hemp bedding keeps the bedding from matting up and stimulates the natural composting process.
If you see any areas of the bedding that get high concentrations of droppings or looks matted, clean out any saturated bedding and replace it with a handful or two of fresh bedding. You can use droppings boards or droppings slings under the roosts to catch nightly droppings for easy removal. By removing the nightly droppings, you can make your hemp bedding last even longer since not as much moist feces will be dirtying the bedding.
Clean up any water spills in the chicken coop, or better yet, keep all waterers outside so that the coop litter stays dry. If water does spill in the hemp bedding, just remove the dampened bedding and replace it with some fresh bedding. With a little regular maintenance, the hemp bedding in your chicken coop should work effectively and for a long time!
Common Questions and Concerns
Is hemp bedding safe for chickens to eat?
Yes. Hemp bedding is all natural and is safe for chickens if they accidentally consume some of the hemp hurds. Even though hemp bedding comes from the same family of plants as marijuana, it does not contain significant levels of the psychoactive elements found in cannabis plants.
Does hemp bedding attract pests?
No. Hemp bedding does not attract pests, rather, quite the opposite. Hemp hurds contain natural pesticides called caryophyllene and humulene. These compounds enable the plant to be grown without insecticides since they naturally repel pests and parasites.
How often should hemp bedding be changed?
The frequency of hemp bedding replacement will depend on how you manage your flock. As a general guideline, hemp bedding should be replaced when its full absorbency has been reached. The litter will no longer fluff up when you stir it, and it will feel heavier than dry hemp bedding. The number of chickens you have, the size of their coop, how much time the birds spend inside the coop, and feces management systems will all impact the longevity of the hemp bedding.
