Hemp bedding

[M_Struna]

I’m looking to convert my coop bedding from sand to hemp for the winter. Looking for recommendations on what brand to buy. I’m currently researching My Favorite Chicken vs Auboise. Anyone with experience have a brand they prefer? I was leaning toward the My Favorite Chicken with Dookash but it’s out of stock.

 

[Debbie292d]

I know some that use it and like it, but it gets so expensive. Have you considered horse bedding pellets? That's 100% compressed pine, and very absorbent. We're in Wisconsin where it's subzero temps much of the winter and it helps keep the humidity down due to its absorbative properties. We use them in all of the coops, hutches, and brooders for nearly a decade. We only change them out in the coops about once a year, so they are very low maintenance as well.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I hate recommending this, but Eaton Pet & Pasture is actually pretty good. You can save some money with other brands, but they come with these clumps of hemp fiber, and I'm worried my girls will get impacted crops from eating them. EPP is very expensive. Thankfully, they sell it in mega bags now. It lasts quite a while if you're willing to pick poops out each day.

It's what I'll be using for winter in my coop's poop tray.

 

[M_Struna]

I know some that use it and like it, but it gets so expensive. Have you considered horse bedding pellets? That's 100% compressed pine, and very absorbent. We're in Wisconsin where it's subzero temps much of the winter and it helps keep the humidity down due to its absorbative properties. We use them in all of the coops, hutches, and brooders for nearly a decade. We only change them out in the coops about once a year, so they are very low maintenance as well.

I would love to be able to use the horse bedding pellets but I found out that I am quite allergic to pine . I didn’t think a whole lot of it when there was a small amount of shavings in a storage tub. But when we moved them into the coop and filled it with the bedding I was having a difficult time breathing. My spouse cleared it out and replaced with sand. Not really loving it. I’d go with it in the run, but not the coop. So, yeah…I know it’s not the most cost-effective route to go, but I think it’ll work best for us.

 

[Debbie292d]

I would love to be able to use the horse bedding pellets but I found out that I am quite allergic to pine . I didn’t think a whole lot of it when there was a small amount of shavings in a storage tub. But when we moved them into the coop and filled it with the bedding I was having a difficult time breathing. My spouse cleared it out and replaced with sand. Not really loving it. I’d go with it in the run, but not the coop. So, yeah…I know it’s not the most cost-effective route to go, but I think it’ll work best for us.

Since you may try them for a run, I would grab a bag of them ahead of time. Take a couple of pellets and rub them on your skin to see if you react there within a few minutes. It's the pollen that is in the cones that causes the allergens to those who are sensitive to it.

The pellets are made from the wood and heat-treated, so were there any allergens in it, they'd have been eliminated. It's worth a shot as you might find they cause you no issue.

 

[M_Struna]

Since you may try them for a run, I would grab a bag of them ahead of time. Take a couple of pellets and rub them on your skin to see if you react there within a few minutes. It's the pollen that is in the cones that causes the allergens to those who are sensitive to it.

The pellets are made from the wood and heat-treated, so were there any allergens in it, they'd have been eliminated. It's worth a shot as you might find they cause you no issue.

Thanks for the insight.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thanks for the insight.

No problem. I just want folks to do what might be the easiest and efficient option. I'm allergic to a lot of things, but luckily, not pine. I haven't rubbed up against one of our pine trees with cones though. I don't even want to know.