Knowing the best bedding options for chicken coop is most important. Both new and expert chicken owners need environmentally friendly coop bedding.
You may have noticed that more and more of your neighbors are turning their yards into small farms.
In fact, an estimated 11 million U.S. households now keep chickens in their backyards.
You know that fresh eggs are great if you have a small farm or a backyard, but it’s important to keep your coop clean and comfortable for your hens.
Picking the right bedding is a big part of taking care of your coop. Good bedding keeps moisture in, controls odors, and adds insulation.
People often use pine shavings or sawdust, but smart chicken owners are looking for eco-friendly, recycled options that are safe for birds and the environment.
Bedding that is good for the environment cuts down on waste, can often be composted into garden fertilizer, and keeps your flock warm without using harmful chemicals.
Key Benefits of Good Bedding
- Absorb moisture: The best bedding soaks up droppings and spilled water, which keeps the coop floor dry and protects the chickens’ sensitive respiratory systems.
- Control smells: Good bedding keeps ammonia and other smells from droppings from getting into your eyes and lungs, which can cause irritation.
- Comfort and insulation: A thick layer of bedding keeps the flock warm in the winter and softens their feet, making it a cozy place for them to sleep.
- Compostable and good for the environment: Materials that break down easily, like straw or hemp, can be turned into rich compost that puts nutrients back into your garden.
You want bedding that meets these standards without hurting the environment. A lot of “eco-friendly” bedding is made from organic, biodegradable, and sometimes recycled materials. This means that they come from waste streams or byproducts.
Also read: Best Chicken Coop Beddings Online Available
Best Chicken Coop Bedding Options and Types
Here are some of the best eco-friendly bedding material choices or types:
1. Hemp Bedding For Your Chicken Coop
Hemp fiber, which comes from industrial hemp plants, is one of the best materials for eco-friendly chicken coop bedding. It can soak up about four times its weight in moisture, so spills and droppings won’t stay around.
Hemp bedding naturally controls odors by trapping ammonia under its thick fibers. You’ll be impressed.
It also doesn’t have much dust in it, which is good for chicken lungs (and yours, too). One fan says that hemp is “like a super sponge” because it lasts longer between cleanings than straw or wood shavings and is easier to clean.
Hemp bedding is also good for your health in ways you might not expect. It keeps mites and lice away naturally. Lab tests showed that caryophyllene and humulene in hemp keep mites and ticks away, so your flock can scratch around without getting itchy.
Hemp’s structure traps air and heat in cold weather, making it a great insulator. Hemp bedding is 100% compostable, so when it’s time to change the coop, it becomes rich fertilizer instead of trash.
Some suppliers even say that hemp products use less land and water to make than wood products, which makes them a truly eco-friendly choice.
What are the bad things?
- 4X ABSORBENCY – Old Dominion Hemp bedding absorbs up...
- LOW DUST – Specially designed to be low dust, this...
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- FRESH AND NEAT – Effectively absorbs moisture to keep...
Hemp can be more expensive and harder to find in feed stores. But a lot of people who keep chickens think the long-lasting performance is worth the money.
One guide says, “A little hemp goes a long way.” You can order hemp bedding online if you can’t find it in your area. Some companies even send supplies in bulk to farms.
2. Straw Bedding For Your Backyard Chicken Coop
Straw, which is made from dried stalks of grains like wheat, oats, or rye, is a classic bedding material that is still popular for good reason. It’s cheap and easy to find, especially after the harvest season.
Straw is a natural insulator, which means it helps keep chickens warm when they roost in the winter. In tests to see how well it absorbs water, chopped straw was one of the best.
It can hold about seven times its own weight in water. That means that wet droppings and water are quickly sucked in.
Many people who keep chickens in their backyards like that they enjoy scratching in loose straw. It makes cleaning up feed drops fun and natural.
You can also compost straw; after you’re done with it, you can put it right on the garden or the compost pile.
In fact, straw litter is a great way to add nutrients to soil (poultry manure mixed with straw gives you an N-P-K of about 3-2-2).
Straw bedding is better for the environment because it cuts down on plastic litter bags and puts carbon back into the soil.
There are some things to keep in mind:
- Coarse-Cut 100% Non-GMO Wheat Straw – 2-3 inch pieces...
- Thoroughly Cleaned, Allergen & Dust-Free –...
- Effective Absorption & Odor Control – Wicks moisture...
- Fluffy, Insulative & Long-Lasting – Coarse pieces...
- Lightweight, Ample Coverage & Fast Decomposition –...
Straw can get matted or moldy if the coop gets too wet. It doesn’t let go of moisture as easily as sand or gravel, so you’ll need to change it out pretty often (every 1–2 weeks if it’s wet).
To keep things from going wrong, spread straw about 4 to 6 inches deep and fluff it up once a week. Use small pieces of straw instead of long stalks.
Chopped straw is safer (long straws can get tangled and hurt crops) and works better on the ground. To keep mold from growing, always keep straw in a dry place before you use it.
3. Pine or Aspen Wood Shavings For Chicken Coop Floors
Wood chips or shavings are another common type of bedding. Most of the time, pine shavings that have been dried in a kiln are used.
They are light, don’t make dust, and soak up a lot of water. Pine wood has natural resins that help keep smells in check and stop bacteria from growing.
People have liked pine shavings for a long time because they smell good and fight odors. Because they are easy to scoop and spread out, many homesteaders keep pine shavings on hand.
They are also easy to find at farm stores. Coop-care guides say that pine shavings are “great for controlling odors” and are naturally antibacterial.
Wood shavings also break down well in compost. Pine-based used coop litter is high in carbon and helps balance the high nitrogen levels in manure.
When you finally clean out the coop, the old shavings are completely biodegradable, which is a big plus. They are part of a compost made from poultry litter that is full of nutrients and can help your garden grow more.
Just be careful:
- Natural aspen shavings: Using aspen wood, after...
- STRONG ABSORPTIVITY AND EASY TO CLEAN: The product is...
- EASY TO CLEAN UP: The shavings are easy to clean up and...
- Wide range of use: In addition to being used as chicken...
- The product includes: 31OZ of Poplar shavings pet...
Don’t ever use cedar shavings. Cedar wood gives off oils that can hurt or kill the respiratory systems of chickens.
Always pick kiln-dried pine or aspen shavings that say they are safe for birds. One simple tip is to look for bags that say “kiln-dried pine” or ask the supplier if the wood is safe.
Moderate levels of dust can still be a problem with any wood product, so if dust bothers you, sprinkle some diatomaceous earth on top or handle the shavings gently to keep particles from getting into the air.
4. Recycled Paper and Cardboard For Chicken Coop Bedding
You can use old used newspapers! Shredded recycled paper or cardboard is a cheap and eco-friendly way to make bedding.
You can shred and spread old newspapers (only black-and-white print), office paper (without heavy inks), or cardboard boxes in the coop.
This bedding is made from recycled materials and keeps you warm and dry. One big benefit is that paper and cardboard usually end up in landfills if they aren’t used again.
By giving them to your chickens and then composting the used bedding, you can cut down on waste.
One UK supplier says that shredded cardboard bedding is “dust-extracted” and almost dust-free, which is good for the health of chickens.
It absorbs moisture quickly, which keeps the coop dry. It also protects chickens’ feet and keeps them warm.
When it gets dirty, cardboard bedding is easy to clean: wet spots break up, and the whole thing turns into rich humus. The best part is that this bedding is made from 100% recycled materials.
Things to remember
To use paper bedding safely, take out any parts with shiny or bright ink (stick to black-and-white ink, newsprint or plain cardboard).
Some of those inks may have harmful chemicals in them, so only use paper that is safe for ink. Put down a thick layer (3–4 inches) of shredded paper or cardboard.
It will get wet faster than straw, so be ready to replace or fluff it more often. But it’s not a big deal to change it often because it’s so cheap or even free.
One thing to keep in mind is that very light paper can float or blow out of the coop in drafts. It might be best to keep it under roosts or in nesting boxes, or mix it with some heavier bedding (like straw or wood pellets) to make it more stable.
5. Used Coffee Grounds For Chicken Coop Bedding
You might not hear this very often, but used coffee grounds make surprisingly good bedding for chickens. After making your morning coffee, throw the used grounds into the coop.
They should be completely dry first. JavaEarth sells bags of dried coffee grounds as coop bedding. They say it’s a “sustainable, compostable alternative to straw or shavings” with “excellent absorbency and natural odor control.”
Coffee grounds are a free or very cheap resource, especially if you drink a lot of coffee or know someone who does and can ask them for their waste grounds.
They feel soft and fluffy, and coffee grounds are a little acidic, which helps get rid of ammonia smells. The caffeine is gone after brewing, so chickens can peck at them without hurting themselves.
Soiled coffee grounds are also great for the garden, just like the other options. They are full of nutrients and organic matter, and in compost, they work like a carbon-rich peat moss substitute.
Be careful:
- PACKAGE CONTENTS: 10 cube box with liner containing 20...
- ODOR CONTROL: Helps suppress ammonia odors from animal...
- MULTI-ANIMAL USE: Specially designed bedding material...
Coffee grounds can stick together when they are wet, so you may need to clean them out more often (every week or two).
Also, wet coffee grounds can grow mold, so only use grounds that have been dried out. You can dry them by putting them in a shallow tray in the sun or by leaving a bin of grounds in the sun for a day.
After they are dry, mix them into the bedding or spread them under the roosts. To make the texture better, many keepers mix coffee grounds with other things, like coconut coir or wood chips.
Important Points To Follow
- Materials: Hemp, straw, pine shavings, paper, and coffee grounds are all natural, compostable materials that make great eco-friendly chicken bedding. They soak up moisture, keep hens healthy without using synthetic chemicals, and control odors.
- Performance: Hemp is great because it can hold about four times its weight in water and is almost dust-free. Straw and pine shavings are cheap and easy to turn into compost.
- Recycling: Paper and cardboard from recycling make good bedding that lasts a long time. You can also reuse old coffee grounds in your coop. They are very absorbent and full of nutrients.
- Disposal: Used bedding turns into compost that is full of nutrients (about 2–3% nitrogen). Making garden soil out of old coop litter cuts down on waste and completes the cycle of your flock’s nutrition.
- Health: All of these materials keep the coop warm in the winter and keep the coop clean and dry. When you choose eco-friendly bedding, you help both your chickens and the planet at the same time!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it possible to compost or reuse chicken bedding that has already been used?
A: Yes, for sure. Most natural bedding, like straw, hemp, pine, and paper, breaks down easily in compost. You can either throw away your old coop bedding or put it in a compost bin. It has a lot of nitrogen and other nutrients in it (for example, one study found that poultry litter had about 52 pounds of nitrogen and 39 pounds of phosphate per ton), which makes it a strong soil amendment. If you use the deep litter method, you can just add new bedding on top of the old bedding and stir it once a week to start composting in place. If not, take out the old bedding once a year and put it in the compost pile. Don’t compost bedding that has strict pathogens in it (like during disease outbreaks), but under normal conditions, recycled bedding is great for the garden.
Q: Is it safe for my chickens to eat shredded cardboard or newspaper?
A: Yes, but you need to be careful. Shredded paper or cardboard that is clean and not shiny is usually safe. Plain black and white newsprint or uncoated cardboard is best (no colored inks or plastics). These materials do not collect dust, can soak up water, and can be composted. They do a good job of holding smells, but they easily mat, so you should plan to change them more often. Don’t use paper that has been in contact with chemicals or glossy paper or magazines (inks can be toxic). Many keepers say that shredded cardboard, like flattened boxes, works best and is most comfortable for hens. When using paper bedding, spread it out thickly and think about mixing it with straw at first. Plain paper can get slippery when wet.
Q: How often should I change the bedding materials?
A: It depends on the material and how often you clean your coop. If the straw gets wet, you should change it completely every 1–2 weeks. Hemp or pine shavings can often last a month or more before they need to be replaced completely (it’s a good idea to clean them once a week). When the bedding is wet, smells like ammonia, or you see flies, it’s time to make a change. If you have shredded paper or coffee grounds, you should clean them more often, like once a week or every other week. Good airflow is important for all types of bedding. A coop with good airflow keeps bedding dry, which makes it last longer. In very cold weather, you can use even deeper straw as a self-heating “deep litter” (add new material over time and let it turn into compost in place). If your hens look dirty or their feet are wet, give them new dry bedding right away.
Q: Is it worth it to pay more for hemp bedding?
A: Yes, for a lot of people who keep chickens. Hemp bedding costs more at first than straw or shavings, but it lasts longer and is easier to clean. A few bags will cover more of the coop floor and need to be changed less often because hemp absorbs so much. Because it doesn’t have dust or mites, it keeps birds healthier and makes their breathing less irritating. With a deep litter system, you can leave hemp for weeks or even months, and it will generate heat as it composts underfoot. Also, the leftover hemp makes great compost. Check your budget: if you want high-quality bedding that is easy to care for and you have room for compost, hemp is a good choice. You could mix hemp with cheaper straw if you’re worried about the cost. This way, you save money and still get some benefits.
Q: Where can I get bedding materials that are good for the environment?
A: Most farm and coop supply stores sell straw and pine shavings. Hemp bedding is becoming easier to find online or in stores that only sell farm supplies (look for brands that sell pasture or pet supplies). If you want to recycle, save old cardboard boxes (ask your local grocery store or use the boxes that come with your deliveries) and have a paper shredder on hand for newspapers. You can even buy empty kraft paper grain bags at a lot of feed stores to use again. You can get used coffee grounds from home brewing or from coffee shops (but make sure to dry them well first). The most important thing is to use local materials whenever possible. For example, fallen leaves or straw from a neighbor’s field can be used as bedding. You and your chickens can both benefit from being creative and recycling on the farm.
Conclusion
Choosing chicken toop bedding that is good for the environment is a win-win. You can make the floor of your coop comfortable and healthy for your birds by using materials like hemp, straw, wood, recycled paper, or coffee grounds.
This is also good for the environment. These choices are not only biodegradable and often recycled, but they also work well: they soak up moisture, cut down on smell, and even keep birds warm.
Most importantly, used bedding makes great compost, which turns chicken poop into fertilizer for your garden.
Sustainable bedding helps you make the most of your benefits and cut down on waste, whether you have a small flock of chickens in your backyard or on a small farm.
There really isn’t any downside to going natural. Your birds will be happier and healthier, there will be fewer chemicals, and your eco-footprint will be smaller.
So, give your chickens the green bedding they need. You will see why eco-friendly choices are the best for your flock and the world over time!
Last update on 2026-02-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
