Hemp bales vs. packaged bedding

[Laurie Williams]

Hello,

I have a coop with a run that is built off the ground, with a wood floor covered in linoleum. The run itself is about 8’ x 15”, with hardware cloth all around. Everything is covered with a tile roof.
I’m thinking about using hemp as a substrate for the coop and run. This is my first time looking into this, and I’ve noticed that hemp can be purchased in bales, or in packages where it appears the hemp is chopped up.
Any recommendations as to which is better? Does it matter? I’d like to use the deep litter method, but I’m hearing some who use this method say they still poop scoop, and it seems scooping might be easier using the chopped hemp, it what comes in bales are bigger pieces.
I’m looking for a solution that would save me the most time. The straw I’m using now gets wet (I have chickens and a few ducks) and it really has to be removed frequently because it doesn’t dry out by itself.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So the entire run is on a wood platform, not on the ground? Any reason for this? No matter what substrate you choose you won't be doing deep litter without ground contact and without moisture, which is bad for the wood.

 

[Laurie Williams]

So the entire run is on a wood platform, not on the ground? Any reason for this? No matter what substrate you choose you won't be doing deep litter without ground contact and without moisture, which is bad for the wood.

The platform is raised for protection from predators. The last set up I had (dirt floor) was comprised a couple of times by something that burrowed under the ground despite a two foot predator barrier around the whole thing. The wood is covered with linoleum for ease of cleaning. At this point, I’m sweeping all the old straw out spreading new down to help with moisture as we had a lot of leaks from the watering system, plus the poop, etc. There’s an attached duck house-same situation, raised wood floor but no linoleum where I’ve been using deep litter for years with no issues so far. We don’t have a lot of humidity here, maybe that helps.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As far as the question of hemp itself, I've only used the packaged type where the hurds are fairly finely shredded. Not sure how that compares to the bales (I imagine those aren't shredded?) The packaged ones are expensive so I only use it under the roost as it's easy to sift poop out of it for composting.

 

[Laurie Williams]

My understanding too, that the bale hemp isn’t shredded. But it seems less expensive

 

[ChicoryBlue]

As far as the question of hemp itself, I've only used the packaged type where the hurds are fairly finely shredded. Not sure how that compares to the bales (I imagine those aren't shredded?) The packaged ones are expensive so I only use it under the roost as it's easy to sift poop out of it for composting.

My understanding too, that the bale hemp isn’t shredded. But it seems less expensive

I buy bales of chopped hemp directly from Dominion Hemp.
https://www.dominionhemp.com/
Pound for pound / liters / coverage it seems to be the best buy among all the producers I can find.

Dominion’s chopped hemp has become slightly coarser than it was when I first bought from them a few years ago, but it is definitely fine enough and I’m happy. I use it in the nest boxes and poop trays. It digs and then packs really nicely for the nesting bowls they make and I think they like snuggling down into it and arranging themselves. I like that in the poop trays it is so absorbent it clumps really nicely for picking out. I use a claw-like tool to collect clumps into a kitty litter scoop.

My vet wants me to try it in the run also, for less dust than pine shavings, so I’m giving that a try (I have respiratory issues with my gang) but my wallet is experiencing some pain. It is slightly cheaper however to buy direct than to buy the same volume from a retailer. It’s the shipping that’s killer, it almost doubles the price ~$30/bale + ~$26 per bale shipping.

I wonder if the “French” chopped hemp is finer, or if there is a grade difference between the types? When I googled it, AI seemed to think the only difference is the country of origin.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I buy bales of chopped hemp directly from Dominion Hemp.
https://www.dominionhemp.com/
Pound for pound / liters / coverage it seems to be the best buy among all the producers I can find.

Dominion’s chopped hemp has become slightly coarser than it was when I first bought from them a few years ago, but it is definitely fine enough and I’m happy. I use it in the nest boxes and poop trays. It digs and then packs really nicely for the nesting bowls they make and I think they like snuggling down into it and arranging themselves. I like that in the poop trays it is so absorbent it clumps really nicely for picking out. I use a claw-like tool to collect clumps into a kitty litter scoop.

My vet wants me to try it in the run also, for less dust than pine shavings, so I’m giving that a try (I have respiratory issues with my gang) but my wallet is experiencing some pain. It is slightly cheaper however to buy direct than to buy the same volume from a retailer. It’s the shipping that’s killer, it almost doubles the price ~$30/bale + ~$26 per bale shipping.

I wonder if the “French” chopped hemp is finer, or if there is a grade difference between the types? When I googled it, AI seemed to think the only difference is the country of origin.

I have Dominion hemp right now. Not sure what the "French" designation means.

If you have room for a pile of wood chips I'd recommend that as a low dust option over hemp for the run because yes hemp is probably the most expensive bedding option, which is why I use it strictly under the roost for sifting.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I have Dominion hemp right now. Not sure what the "French" designation means.

If you have room for a pile of wood chips I'd recommend that as a low dust option over hemp for the run because yes hemp is probably the most expensive bedding option, which is why I use it strictly under the roost for sifting.

The road crew has chipped roadside saplings and such, they leave them on the banks. Here nobody wants these little piles so I think it’s be okay to gather them up, but I’d have to look for aged ones, not fresh. Otherwise, there isn’t a crew nearby of the actual tree trimmers for the power company (and then it needs a year to age and dry out). I’ve had that in past years, and aged the pile before using. Do you think pine needles are low dust? There are larch trees that every fall drop their needles on to the road, easy to rake up.

 

[Laurie Williams]

As far as the question of hemp itself, I've only used the packaged type where the hurds are fairly finely shredded. Not sure how that compares to the bales (I imagine those aren't shredded?) The packaged ones are expensive so I only use it under the roost as it's easy to sift poop out of it for composting.

I see they have the Old Dominion on Amazon for 56.95 with shipping.

 

[Laurie Williams]

The road crew has chipped roadside saplings and such, they leave them on the banks. Here nobody wants these little piles so I think it’s be okay to gather them up, but I’d have to look for aged ones, not fresh. Otherwise, there isn’t a crew nearby of the actual tree trimmers for the power company (and then it needs a year to age and dry out). I’ve had that in past years, and aged the pile before using. Do you think pine needles are low dust? There are larch trees that every fall drop their needles on to the road, easy to rake up.

I think they’re low dust but I read that aromatic compounds in pine shavings can irritate the birds respiratory system. Don’t know if that would go fore pine needles too.
I have a huge pile of wood chips from juniper trees that ere cut down in my neighbors yard. Wonder if they would work.