Hemp Bedding for Goats
Whether you’re keeping goats for commercial purposes or as pets, it’s essential to make sure they are healthy and happy.
Your choice of shelter and bedding for goats, to a large extent, determines their health and comfort. Over time, we’ve learned that hemp bedding is the best for goats, as we’ll elaborate in this guide.
Try our hemp bedding today or let’s learn more about what makes hemp bedding right for goats and other animals.
What is Hemp Bedding?
Hemp bedding is made from the stalk of the Cannabis plant. It is then mulched down into a straw-like product to make it more natural, soft, and absorbent. Since time immemorial, hemp has been used in the textile industry, the production of beauty products, and rope production.
Hemp is a versatile plant that requires minimal care when growing. The plant has pest-repellent properties that enable it to resist any attacks in the soil. Thus, the hemp plant grows without requiring any pesticides or fertilizers.
What Do Goats Like to Sleep On?
Goats love sleeping on a raised platform because they enjoy climbing, and it also helps to keep them dry away from urine. You can use pallets to raise a sleeping platform for your goats. The pallets should get fixed in such a way that it’s stable to protect your goats from tripping over. Goats also enjoy sleeping on warm and comfortable bedding because it protects them from wetness.
Can I Use Hay for Goat Bedding?
Yes, you can use hay for goat bedding. However, hay is quite expensive, which will affect your finances in the long run. Goats also love eating on the hay, which means they could end up eating their bedding. It becomes even worse if your goats feed on hay mixed with poo and urine because it could lead to worm infestation. This means you’re only left with one choice – hemp!
Importance of Bedding for Goats
If you’re wondering why your goats cannot sleep on the bare floor, here are some of the reasons we recommend goat bedding. To act as successful bedding for goats, the substance must:
- Absorb urine
- Provide protection from wind
- Provide warmth
- Must be comfortable
Absorb urine
Bedding absorbs urine so that your animals can sleep on a dry surface. If you have kept the goats for fleece harvesting, it means that the fleece will remain in good condition.
Urine also tends to attract flies which aren’t a good sight in your goat barn. Flies can bring about diseases such as dysentery.
Urine also contains ammonia which is an unpleasant smell for you and your animals. The smell can lead to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. Goats sleeping on a floor filled with urine can also expose them to cold.
Protection from wind
Most goat farmers don’t have good barns for their goats. These barns allow in drafts through spaces on the walls, doors, and windows. Goat bedding allows your animal to burrow in whenever strong winds are coming through.
Warmth
During colder months in autumn and winter, your goats need warmth just like you do. You cannot afford to leave them on the bare floor because they could suffer from extreme temperatures. Our hemp bedding keeps your goats warm throughout the cold season.
Usually, as the hemp decomposes in urine and poop, it generates heat which keeps animals warm in the cold.
Comfort
Goatskin and feet are exceptionally delicate, and your choice of bedding could keep them comfortable or not. You want to make sure that the bedding is soft enough to offer your animals a soft cushion to sleep on. Lesions and abscesses are common problems with goats. You can avoid these problems by providing our Dominion Hemp for your goats.
Common Problems Found with Goats Living in Dirty Conditions
Goats need a clean environment to live a healthy and happy life. Deep cleaning of the barn is necessary at least once a month, depending on your choice of bedding. Goats living on bare floors often soil themselves with urine and poop.
Here are some of the conditions you could deal with if your goats aren’t maintained in a clean environment.
- Abscesses
- Pneumonia
- Diarrhea
Abscesses
These are small lumps that appear on the lymph nodes near the head and neck. The lumps can also occur in any other part of the body. Pus may come out of the swellings and eventually form a mass of fibrous tissue. The cause of abscesses is pricking by bedding or grass while feeding. It’s only fair to your goats if you buy them soft bedding like hemp.
Pneumonia is a lower respiratory disease that affects goats and sheep. The disease is either caused by a virus or bacteria and affects the lung tissues. A sick goat will have nasal discharge, lots of sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and difficulties in breathing.
Pneumonia
The leading cause of Pneumonia in goats is poor ventilation and smelly bedding. Ensure that your goat house has good ventilation and is free from odors by choosing highly absorbent bedding like hemp.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common problem among farm animals exposed to unsanitary conditions. Diarrhea happens due to worm infestation, and food and drink contamination. A sick goat or sheep will pass loose stool, lack appetite, appear fatigued, and be disinterested in the environment.
Hygiene is the best prevention for cases of diarrhea in goats. Hemp bedding is clean because it absorbs waste four times better than standard bedding.
Benefits of Hemp Hedding for Goat Houses
Still not convinced about hemp bedding? Here are the benefits of using hemp for your goat barns.
- Highly absorbent
- Odor-free
- Antibacterial properties
- Biodegradable
- Dust-dree
- Cost-effective
Highly absorbent
Hemp is highly absorbent and can absorb up to 4 times its weight. Therefore, the bedding can absorb goat urine, leaving your goats feeling more comfortable and dry. Hemp has deep pockets that trap moisture preventing mold accumulation.
Mold is a leading cause of respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia that affect goats. Besides, wetness on the floor can cause foot rot in goats. Footrot is an infection that starts from a small wound when goats are exposed to damp conditions.
Odor-free
Hemp is also odor-free, meaning that it will help keep flies away from your goat house. Hemp bedding has air pockets that trap all urine and poop smells. Therefore, you can rest assured of a clean and non-smelly barn for your goats. The clean smell also gives you a comfortable space to work from as you feed or clean for your animals.
Antibacterial properties
Hemp naturally has antibacterial properties that make it repellant to pests and diseases. You can say goodbye to common bacterial illnesses such as Pneumonia and abscesses with hemp bedding.
Biodegradable
Every farmer wants well-composted manure from the goat barn. Hemp is highly biodegradable, meaning that it fully decomposes, incorporating the goat waste. Do you like goat manure for sale or for your kitchen garden? Make use of hemp bedding for your goats!
Dust-free
Unlike other types of bedding like wood shavings, aspen, cedar, or hay, hemp is low in dust. Your goats can breathe without any dust irritating their respiratory system. If you’re allergic to dust, you also want to use dust-free bedding in your animal house.
Cost-effective
As a farmer, you want to minimize costs while maximizing profits. Animal bedding can be costly in the long run. Hemp is cost-effective because it’s highly absorbent, which reduces change times. Eventually, you’ll spend less time keeping your goats comfortable.
Where to Buy Hemp Bedding for Goats
Now that you already know the benefits of hemp bedding for your goat barns, the next question is where to buy it. At Dominion Hemp, we take pride in being the top sellers of high-quality hemp animal bedding.
Order your hemp bedding now and keep your goats healthy!
FAQs about Hemp Bedding For Goats
What is the best bedding for goats?
The perfect bedding for goats is not only absorbent and low in dust, but also safe and compostable—and that's where hemp shines! Dominion Hemp bedding can soak up an incredible four times its weight in moisture, keeping stalls dry and fresh while minimizing ammonia. It's an excellent choice for goat barns year-round, helping encourage healthier hooves and fresher air. Your goats will thrive!
What do goats like to sleep on?
Goats love snuggling up on clean, dry bedding that keeps them warm and cozy! Hemp bedding is a fantastic choice because it stays fluffy rather than getting compacted like straw and doesn’t turn slippery like shavings. Whether in a barn, shed, or a simple lean-to, hemp offers a soft, inviting sleeping surface that your goats will truly appreciate.
Can goats eat hemp bedding?
Goats are naturally curious creatures and might take a nibble on new bedding! The good news is that hemp is safe and non-toxic in small amounts. Plus, it’s made from the plant's fibrous stalks, with no THC or CBD. Typically, goats will soon figure out that it’s not a snack, especially when they’ve got plenty of hay and minerals around. It’s all part of their playful exploration!
Is hemp bedding good for goat hooves and health?
Yes. Goats need dry bedding to prevent hoof rot, thrush, and bacterial issues. Hemp naturally resists moisture and traps ammonia odors, helping to reduce harmful bacteria and improve air quality. Its low-dust formula also supports respiratory health for both goats and their owners.
What’s the best bedding for goats in summer and winter?
Hemp bedding is ideal year-round. In summer, its superior absorbency helps keep barns drier and reduces flies and odor. In winter, it insulates well when layered and holds warmth without getting soggy or compacted. It's a great choice whether you have a full goat barn, a small shed, or a DIY goat house setup.
Dominion Hemp bedding, crafted from the inner core of industrial hemp stalks, is an excellent choice for your goats! It's non-toxic, chemical-free, and entirely safe for them to walk, lie down, or even nibble.
Plus, with no THC, it's ideal for sensitive animals. Your goats will love it!
Why is hemp bedding better than straw or wood shavings?
Hemp bedding absorbs up to four times its weight in moisture, keeping goat stalls drier for more extended periods, which means cleaner hooves and fewer bacterial issues. It also naturally traps ammonia odors, helping reduce smells without chemicals.
Unlike straw, hemp won’t mat down or become slick underfoot, reducing the risk of slipping or hoof problems. And because it's ultra-low-dust, it’s ideal for goats with sensitive respiratory systems — and the humans who care for them.
Is hemp bedding compostable?
Dominion Hemp bedding is entirely plant-based and decomposes more quickly than shavings or straw. Many goat owners compost the used bedding and can apply it to their pastures or gardens within a few months, eliminating the need for long-term aging that is typically required for manure-heavy mixes.