Pine shavings vs hemp bedding

[aart]

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.

 

[FluffAndFeather]

Have you looked into pine pellet bedding? I haven't used them yet (I plan to) but I hear the pellets are very absorbent and only need to be cleaned out once or twice a year (of course, that depends on how many birds you have and the size of the coop, etc.).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/horse-bedding-pellets.1652397/

I have not heard that yet! I will definitely look into it!

 

[FluffAndFeather]

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.

Interesting! Thanks

 

[FluffAndFeather]

Thanks for the reply! I just checked amazon....quite pricey compared to the TSC pine shavings. I think I'll just stick with the shavings. But I can see why hemp would be useful if you are sifting the poo, which I don't

Thank you both for your guy’s input!

 

[Blingchix6]

I converted to hemp after 6 or 7 years with TSC wood shavings. Yes, the hemp costs more……..but I don’t need to clean the coop as often because hemp controls the odor and handles the moisture much better than wood shavings. I can also use the hemp I cleaned out of the coop in my garden as compost after I let it sit a few months.

 

[FluffAndFeather]

I converted to hemp after 6 or 7 years with TSC wood shavings. Yes, the hemp costs more……..but I don’t need to clean the coop as often because hemp controls the odor and handles the moisture much better than wood shavings. I can also use the hemp I cleaned out of the coop in my garden as compost after I let it sit a few months.

Good to know!

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Hemp in back under the roosts, wood chips in the rest of the coop because they're free, and no need to fill up my coop with expensive hemp

I was thinking of adding a poop board but I don't think it will work with my roosts & door locations. This sounds like a good alternative plan but how do you keep the chickens from scratching & mixing it all together?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I was thinking of adding a poop board but I don't think it will work with my roosts & door locations. This sounds like a good alternative plan but how do you keep the chickens from scratching & mixing it all together?

If you look at the photo, there's an 8" tall board dividing the 2 sides. A little gets scratched over but it's very minimal.

 

[FluffAndFeather]

All of this is very helpful! Thanks everyone

 

[middle TN Nancy]

Hey y’all! Hope you’re having an amazing day! I’m starting to think more about my coop as I get closer to getting chicks! (24 days!!) I was wondering what is better, hemp vs pine shavings for the coop. Which is better for deep litter method and which is better or regular cleaning? Also do you prefer the deep litter method? Thanks

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.