Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads

FAQ

• How often should Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads be changed?

  It depends on how many hens you have and how they use the nesting boxes. It could be a few weeks to a couple months.  

  For best results, we recommend maintaining with routine cleaning rather than frequent pad replacement. For easier cleaning, add a little bedding on top of your nesting pads. When it’s time to clean, rather than handpick the soiled parts, take out the pad and shake it. The added layer of bedding will prolong the life of your pads and make shaking excrement from the woven fibers easier.

  Because hemp fibers are more durable than straw or other wood shavings, the nesting pads break down much slower. 

• My chickens seem very suspicious, what gives?

  Chickens hate change! If you've never used nesting pads before or if you're switching bedding materials, it can be quite jarring for your flock. We recommend a gradual shift when changing feeds and the same approach applies to nesting box material. Set them up for success by introducing the Hemp Nesting Pads with some of their old bedding sprinkled on top, then gradually reduce that amount as you see them acclimate. Over time, your flock will love their new cozy nesting boxes and you'll love how easy they are to maintain.

• How is Hemp Bedding different from Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads?

  Hemp Bedding and Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads serve two different purposes and are made differently as a result.

  The purpose of Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads is to provide a cushion in your nesting boxes, reducing egg breakage and keeping your nesting boxes cleaner and dryer. As a result, pads are made from hemp fibers which are long-lasting, yet soft and pliable. Hemp fibers come from the outer layer of the hemp stalk, like bark. They are durable, stringy fibers that are woven together onto a 12”x12” pad that is resistant to rot.

  The purpose of Hemp Bedding is to keep your entire coop clean, dry, and comfortable. It comes from the woody core of the stalk, called hemp hurd for its absorbency. Our hemp bedding is chopped into small chips for incredible softness. Bedding does provide cushion, however chickens often scratch and kick it out of nesting boxes, making the Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads a perfect solution.

• Should I use a bedding material with the Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads?

  You absolutely can use both in your nesting boxes. Since a pad stays put, it is an all-around win—less egg breakage and less mess. You can add bedding to your nesting pads for extra comfort, especially in the colder months. 

• Are Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads Compostable?

  Yes! Grubbly Farms Hemp Fiber Nesting Pads are 100% all natural and biodegradable. Our hemp is washed but never chemically treated. Fibers are bound by an all-natural, sugar-based adhesive. 

• What makes hemp so sustainable?

  Unlike most trees that would be used as bedding material, Hemp is a fast-growing crop that does not require pesticides, herbicides, or excessive water. It also lasts longer than traditional bedding, creating less demand for raw materials.By choosing hemp hurd as bedding for your pet chickens, you are caring for your feathered friends and the environment.

• Is hemp bedding safe if ingested?

  Hemp is a natural, non-toxic material and will not harm chickens if small amounts are ingested. Our hemp is not chemically treated. Chickens may naturally peck at it but if your flock seems especially interested in munching on their bedding or nesting pads, make sure you are offering them grit and foraging snacks to combat boredom or nutrient deficiency. 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 calledcaryophyllene and humulene. These compounds enable the plant to be grown without insecticides since they naturally repel pests and parasites.