Harnessing the Power of Hemp: A Sustainable Solution for Building and Chicken Bedding

Hemp, a versatile and sustainable plant with a rich history, has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity. From its use in building materials to its role in animal bedding (and nesting!), hemp is proving to be a valuable resource with numerous benefits for both people and the planet.

The Power of Hemp: A Natural Wonder

Hemp has been cultivated for thousands of years for its fibre, seeds and medicinal properties. Unlike its psychoactive cousin, marijuana, industrial hemp contains negligible levels of THC, the compound responsible for the "high". This makes it a safe and legal crop to grow and use in a wide range of applications.

Hemp and the Law

Hemp is legally defined as the plant species Cannabis sativa L. with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. Any reading over that 0.3 percent level and hemp is considered marijuana, which is currently illegal in most countries.

Versatility and Sustainability

There are different types of hemp which can be used for health and medicinal purposes. Some are used by people for ailments while industrial hemp has no nutritional value but is excellent for use in bedding and nesting materials for hens. Hemp that has been used in the coop can go into the compost or be put directly onto your vegetable garden after allowing enough time for it to break down the chicken droppings.

Hemp's Environmental Advantages

Hemp is a true champion of sustainability, offering a multitude of environmental benefits:

1. Rapid Growth and Weed Suppression: Hemp grows quickly, reaching maturity in under 100 days, making it a highly efficient crop. Its dense foliage and deep root system effectively suppress weeds, reducing the need for herbicides and promoting biodiversity.
2. Carbon Sequestration: Hemp is a carbon sink, meaning it absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases. This helps mitigate climate change and contributes to a cleaner environment.
3. Soil Health: Hemp improves soil health by enriching it with nutrients and increasing its water retention capacity. Its deep roots help prevent soil erosion and improve drainage.
4. Water Conservation: Hemp requires less water than many other crops, making it a valuable resource in areas with limited water availability.

Hemp in Building: A Sustainable Solution

Hempcrete, a building material made from hemp hurd (the woody core of the hemp plant), mixed with a lime binder and water, is a highly sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional building materials. 

Benefits of Hempcrete:

• Excellent Insulation: Hempcrete provides excellent thermal insulation, keeping buildings cool in summer and warm in winter, reducing energy consumption and lowering heating and cooling costs.
• Sound Absorption: Hempcrete is an effective sound absorber, creating quieter and more comfortable living spaces.
• Fire Resistance: Hempcrete is naturally fire-resistant, offering a safer and more secure building material.
• Pest Resistance: Insects and rodents don’t like Hempcrete due to its high alkalinity so tend to stay well away from it
• Moisture Regulation: Hempcrete is breathable and can regulate moisture levels, preventing condensation and mould growth.
• Durability: Hempcrete is a durable material that can last for decades, making it a good long-term investment.

Hempcrete in Practice:

Hempcrete is used in a range of different building applications, including:

• Walls: Hempcrete can be used to build walls, both internal and external, offering excellent insulation and sound absorption.
• Floors: Hempcrete can be used as a subfloor or as a finished floor, providing a natural and sustainable option.
• Roofs: Hempcrete can be used as a roof insulation material, offering excellent thermal performance and fire resistance.

Hempcrete Workshop/Presentation Room

We built the entire 6 x 9M workshop/presentation room walls on the farm using Hempcrete and it has created a quiet, warm and rustic environment ideal for giving our regular presentations. With walls that are 300mm thick, the room stays nice and cool throughout summer and warm in winter. The acoustic properties of the Hempcrete walls are a real bonus as they dampen much of the external sounds and stop any internal echoes.

Hempcrete Chicken Coops

Over the past couple of years, we have been experimenting with building Hempcrete chicken coops. Using 90mm thick Hempcrete panels, the coops provide an optimal environment for hens to sleep and lay their eggs. The Hempcrete panels also create a very natural and organic look to the coops.

Hemp Composites in Building

Hemp can also be used to create a wide range of composite building products with a company called Hexcore, in Pakenham, Melbourne, at the forefront. Using a special hemp seed binder, hemp hurd and enormous hydraulic presses, a range of building products can be created that are highly sustainable and very, very strong.

Benefits of Hemp Composites:

• Excellent Insulation: Similarly to Hempcrete, hemp composites can provide excellent thermal insulation depending on the product made
• Strength: Sheets of hemp composites can have a stronger tensile strength than many types of steel. They have even been used in bulletproof vests in the US.
• Fire resistance: A test for fire resistance was completed by the CSIRO who created a bushfire simulation burn on a hemp structure at their Mogo, NSW test site in 2024. The external wall temp was 1031°c and the Internal wall temp 29°c. The thickness of the wall between these extremes was just 22mm.
• Versatility: Hemp composites can be used for all waterproof plumbing fixtures, pipes and fittings along with construction industry components including I-Beams, wall panels, insulation and roofing.
• Sustainability: It takes just 100 days to transform a hemp seed into a finished hemp product that can then be fully biodegradable without any damage or pollution.

Hemp in Bedding: A Natural Choice for Pets

Hemp is also finding its way into the pet bedding industry, offering a natural and sustainable alternative to traditional bedding materials. We found it far superior to use with our daughter’s guinea pigs than when we were using straw and wood shavings. Using hemp reduced the moisture and smells to a much larger degree and greatly increased the time between cleaning and replacing bedding materials.

Benefits of Hemp Bedding:

1. Highly Absorbent: Hemp bedding is highly absorbent, effectively absorbing moisture and odours, keeping pets clean and comfortable.
2. Anti-Microbial/Bacterial: Hemp bedding has bacteria-resisting properties that reduce the growth of bacteria
3. Dust-Free: Hemp bedding is normally dust-free (depending on the process used), making it ideal for pets with allergies or respiratory problems.
4. Biodegradable: Hemp bedding is biodegradable and compostable, reducing waste and promoting a circular economy.
5. Safe and Non-Toxic: Hemp bedding is safe and non-toxic for pets, providing a healthy and comfortable environment.

Chicken Nesting and Bedding

There are a variety of different options that can be used for chicken bedding and nesting. The most common are straw and hay, but these bring problems as they are poor absorbers of moisture, so they need frequent cleaning and replacement. They are also a long, tubular fibre which makes them a happy home for parasitic insects and rodents who love to make nests in them. 

Benefits of Hemp for Chickens:

1. Anti-Microbial/Bacterial: The natural antibacterial properties of hemp come to the fore in the nest box when bacteria from droppings or dirty claws can easily be transferred to freshly laid eggs.
2. Natural and Safe: The hemp that we sell is 100% organic, natural and safe for chickens, completely free from harmful chemicals and toxins.
3. Highly Absorbent: Hemp effectively absorbs moisture and odours from chicken droppings and enables them to compost rapidly, keeping the nesting boxes cleaner and dryer.
4. Comfortable: Hemp provides a comfortable bedding material for chickens, without any long, stiff or sharp pieces that can prod and potentially injure them.
5. Insulation: Hemp is a wonderful insulator for nesting boxes and bedding areas, keeping them warm and cosy during winter and at night
6. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly: Hemp is a 100% sustainable and eco-friendly material, reducing our environmental footprint.

The Superiority of Hemp Over Traditional Bedding Materials

Over the years, we have used a wide variety of nesting and bedding materials and received a wide range of feedback from customers. We have found that hemp has proven to be one of the very best materials to use with backyard chickens and that it greatly outweighs any cost advantages of other materials. It’s one of the key reasons why we now use hemp as our top recommendation for chicken nesting and bedding materials.

Talking Hens Hemp Bedding

At Talking Hens, we sell a number of different-sized hemp bales ranging from small 3kg bales to our large 14kg bales. We can advise you on exactly what size bale will best suit your chicken coop and how best to use it. When hemp is used in the dry areas of your coop, it will last for well over a year and greatly supports the health and cleanliness of your backyard chicken environment.

Hemp stands out as a sustainable superpower with its rapid growth, carbon sequestration and ability to improve soil health. Its applications in the building industry through hempcrete and hemp composites and pet bedding, particularly for chickens, showcase its versatility and environmental benefits. At Talking Hens, we are proud to offer high-quality hemp bedding that ensures the comfort and well-being of your chickens while promoting greater sustainability and environmental friendliness.