Hemp Bedding- Why is it the best?

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NOTE: I am not responsible for some information as it was gathered on different websites. This article is just a gathering of information to explain why hemp is a good bedding. Thank you


One of the most heavily discussed topics is: What is the best bedding?
We all have different opinions, so I'm going to talk about mine.
Okay, so some of you guys have seen me go a bit crazy when it comes to hemp bedding. So I'm going to explain why I love it so much.



What is Hemp Bedding?
Hemp is an extremely versatile plant that has been used a long time for a variety of reasons- from textiles, to insulation, to rope. It’s a sustainable plant with a natural pesticide that makes it especially easy to grow without artificial insect repellents or fertilizers. Today hemp is still commonly used as a textile, as well as for beauty products, such as hand cream and shampoo. and now- animal bedding.
Hemp bedding is made from what is known as the “hurd” of the Hemp plant or the cannabis plant. The hurd is the stalk of the plant, then the bedding is mulched down into a kind of straw-like texture, which is soft, absorbent and natural. Don't let the word cannabis make you uncomfortable, or discouraged- it's a great bedding. Sometimes, hemp is made out of other plants like eucalyptus.


HEMPWOOD SHAVINGSSTRAW
COSTlowmediumlow
ABSORBENCYhigh (400%)medium to high (250%)low to medium (125%)
COMPOSTING RATEfastslowfast
PROS AND CONS
  • low odour
  • natural pest repellent
  • warm\comfortable
  • egg cushion
  • quality varies depending on season
  • useable for most animals
  • needs regular replacement
  • likely to rot
  • likely to attract mites and\or lice
  • some types can irritate chickens' lungs
  • some are not odourless
  • dusty
  • easy to clean up
  • dust is lung irritant
  • not great for compost
  • different types have different absorbency
  • good odour control
  • cheap
  • warm, comfortable
  • hard to control since its light



Pros of Hemp Bedding
  • It's much cheaper than other bedding and easy to find
  • it's a natural pest repellent
  • can be used in the coop and the run
  • you can use it for other pets- tortoises, horses, livestock etc
  • perfect for chick brooders
  • very absorbent
  • warm and comfortable
  • fast composting rate
  • can last a long time and easy to clean up
  • more sustainable
  • controls odour
  • Great for deep bedding
I use hemp for my chickens, as well as my tortoises. It can last a very long time without stinking- and it's very east to just scoop poop out of it without having to change all of it. It also a natural repellent- I've never had a mite problem. It lets out a small amount of dust, which my chickens love to bath in. the hemp chips may look sharp or hard, but it is a very good cushion for eggs.
For all of you composters out there... hemp bedding decomposes rapidly, I compost all of the used hemp combined with chicken poo and it's the best soil.



Cons of Hemp Bedding
There aren't many cons but...
  • the quality of the bedding can be inconsistent since it is a crop and can vary by growing season. However, if you buy it from a reliable source, then it can be a good product to use.
  • If you don't change it after a while, it can get a bit mouldy- but that happens to most beddings, and we all know we have to change the bedding at least every month.


What Hemp Bedding should I use?
Some people like to grow their own hemp, but if that's not for you, there are lots of different brands of hemp you can buy, and they are sold mainly everywhere (and online). I usually buy a big stack of Aubiose. You can buy eucalyptus-based hemp, reptile hemp, horse hemp, or hemp specifically for chickens. You can also get stacks, bags, or mats. You can choose depending on what qualities you want.

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Animals enjoying Hemp Bedding
Don't believe me? Take it from them!
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PippinTheChicken
PippinTheChicken
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bhaugh
Thanks for gathering the information in an easy to use article but I need to clarify something which may be important for some. I am familiar with the cannabis trade and its pretty common for plants to receive HIGH levels of fertilizers while the plants are growing which could collect in the stalks. If you opt for hemp bedding, ask the supplier if the bedding is from a cannabis crop or raised as a pure hemp crop. There is a big difference between the two crops. No crop is safe from pesticide if grown outside because insects as we know can destroy one in no time. Cannabis crops are no exception.
TheOddOneOut
Wish it was all original, but good article; quite informative.
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My Very First 6 Chickens
I too use hemp bedding, but i have nothing to compare it to seeing its the first bedding i ever purchased with my first chickens. Thanks for the informative article Pippin’ ?❤️
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Comments

PippinTheChicken
kmart60 said:
The absorbence percentage probably refers to the weight of the material. So 400% absorbence would mean it absorbs four times its weight, 50% would mean it absorbs half its weight, etc. It's absolutely possible to refer to more than 100%, depending on the circumstances eg "I went to the casino and made 300% profit on my stake" means I put a dollar in the slot machine and won $3. (It is true that I went to Las Vegas and put a whole dollar through a penny slot machine, but I actually lost it all. Thus ended my professional gambling career.🤣)
Click to expand...
I never thought of it that way! Thank you for clearing that up!
 
My Very First 6 Chickens
I’ve been using hemp in the henhouse since June 2021 and its been a very good experience. 6 chickens and the hemp seems to be doing a really good job of drying out the droppings. Even if its the next day, the droppings are already getting dried out well. It doesnt clump and i have had zero smells. The hemp still has the same integrity, and appearance as 7 months ago. I added 4-6inches on the coop floor back in June 2021. So, 8 months later and its still holding up great. No smells, no moisture. I do not have a comparison tho. Although, this winter in CT we got below zero with wind chill so i purchased some hay and added some on top of the hemp thinking it would provide a little more warmth or cushioning. Well, its only been a month and that hay held moisture so bad. Today I attempted to remove all the hay and noticed wet droppings as well as clumped hay parts that had moisture and what appeared to be fresh droppings even tho it wasnt from that night before. This was very strange to me because for 8 months of just hemp, i have never ever seen any moisture or wetness or clumping. Heading into spring I do not feel i need to change the hemp at all. Its dry and still looks the same as it did when i got it. I just stir it up every now and then and pick out the bigger, hard droppings. Like i mentioned, i was shocked when i noticed that hay i threw in, all wet and clumped together with droppings. Hay did nothing compared to the hemp and was in fact annoying. I dont think there is anything that can possibly work as well as hemp. Climate is an important factor to take into consideration as well imo. (Im just a noob tryin’ my best but love love how the hemp has held up. I think having 4-6 inches of it helped. My henhouse footprint i believe is 4x6ft for 6 hens. The one downfall to hemp is the price, but i purchased it in bulk and i think I’ll get a full year if not more. I’ll never use hay like that again. Hemp for the win! 🐓❤️
 

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PippinTheChicken
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