Pine shavings vs hemp bedding

[FluffAndFeather]

I use exclusively shredded hemp in the coop itself, with poop boards under the roost and PDZ on them for sifting. I tried hemp on the poop boards at first but it doesn’t sift that well and I was wasting a lot. PDZ sifts like sand and it’s EASY to keep the poop boards clean. The sifted poop goes on my compost pile along with the small amount of PDZ that’s stuck to it. My coop is very dry and doesn’t smell.

I use deep litter in the covered run on the ground - anything I can get my hands on like chopped leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, wood chips, shredded office paper, and the used hemp from the coop when I feel like the coop needs refreshing (I’ve had this going for 5 years and I’ve only changed the coop hemp twice). Yes it’s expensive but like I said it lasts a LONG time - it’s very absorbent and not much dust. I order a couple of compressed bales from a company out of VA - Organic something something. Shipping cost is the worst.

Deep litter has worked great for me - I just add more material whenever it seems to be too broken down.

Thanks!

 

[nanobooboo]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 10+ years.

So how exactly do you use the PDZ along with the poop boards?

 

[Blingchix6]

I used pine shavings for years until I bit the bullet and paid $$$ for the hemp bedding. I LOVE it!!! It smells fresh in the coop, the hemp absorbs odors better than pine shavings. I do not need to do a complete clean out like I used to do with the pine shavings, I just mix it up and sprinkle more on top after I have cleaned out under the roosts. It is more expensive than pine, but it lasts so much longer!!! I also place the dirty hemp in my compost pile and it breaks down beautifully; much better than the pine shavings. I sprinkle Sweet PDZ in the areas that are going to receive the most poop, which also can keep down the odor. After using hemp, I would never go back to pine shavings. It just works out better for me and my pampered flock.

 

[Debbie292d]

So how exactly do you use the PDZ along with the poop boards?

I just sprinkle it on the poop boards. Some folks have poop boards with edges all around, so they can put in about an inch or so, then use a cat box scoop to clean the poop out. My way of just sprinkling it keeps it from sticking to the wood and a 4" sheet rock putty knife works to scrape it all to a bucket at the end.