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.

 

[nanobooboo]

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.

Oh, I gotcha. So do you have a poop board under each roost then? I have a prefab TSC coop with trays underneath. The original roosts are about 1"x1" and we added a 2"x4" for better comfort.

 

[nanobooboo]

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.

Hemp it is! I mixed in the horse pellets under the roosts. I gotta a little confused then figured whatever I use will be better than onto metal trays. I cut out linoleum pieces and put underneath for ease of cleaning. OK eas-i-er...

 

[Three Stents]

my poop board set up is like a tray with raised 1" lip , then a feed bag, then sand. I do have the horse PDZ, should I mix the 2 or go one way or the other?

 

[nanobooboo]

I am not qualified to answer that. But I see how you did your trays. All I can comment on is the flatter the surface, the easier to scrape. I like your feed bag recycle idea! Smart. That way you can put the whole shebang into the compost pile. I've read elsewhere that the PDZ is the way to go under the trays.

I have never done poop trays before, and now I don't see how I can do that in my case. I'm not sure the coop designer has ever raised chickens, but I'm working it. I bought the PDZ and the pellets both. Opted to use the pellets along with the hemp mainly because of moisture and odor control. Likely will change my approach as I learn what works. Suppose I can always use things in new and different ways! I also bought First Saturday lime. Haven't decided how to use that either. My run's floor is pretty hard, we did have some grass growing so there's some dirt. For now. (I've noticed PA has a lot of rocks but not much topsoil here - on my side of the mountain anyhow). The previous owner left several bales of straw, so I've thrown that down for flooring. They'll have that to cozy up in. Ordered tarps with built-in grommets from a company in MI called TarpsNow. They come with grommets on all four sides. Can't wait to get those put up. Should be considerably faster and easier than me punching holes in about 35' x 6' of 30 mil vinyl!

Any advice is always welcome.

 

[Debbie292d]

Oh, I gotcha. So do you have a poop board under each roost then? I have a prefab TSC coop with trays underneath. The original roosts are about 1"x1" and we added a 2"x4" for better comfort.

In a manner of speaking, yes. Our silkies didn't like perches.

It's their balcony or walkway in front of the nest boxes that is the length of them, around 8' long, and a shorter one beneath that. There's a 1x2" on the outside of that, that some perch on, so they're pooping in the walkway. They are up 4' because they're silkies and need ramps to get anywhere anyway.

The rest go on top of the nest boxes. These obviously need cleaning, which was done today, but I took these a few days ago. The PDZ is on top and in the walkways.

When we go to clean, nothing sticks. We just zoom a 4" putty knife down their walkway from the far end to the open end at front where a 5-gallon bucket we put below there.

 

[nanobooboo]

Ah, I see. Your design definitely works with the scraper and bucket. So you try to do a "dusting" of the PDZ? Or more like a coating? I think I'll sprinkle it everywhere then, and likely end up with a kitty litter scoop. Now do you also use it in the run? And First Saturday lime, if you do use it, how? Thank you all for taking the time to teach me how you do things.