6 Best Stall Bedding Options For Easy Composting That Old Farmers Swear By
Choosing the right stall bedding makes composting easy. Explore 6 farmer-tested options that break down efficiently for rich, garden-ready soil.
Every farmer with livestock knows the sight: the ever-growing mountain of used bedding and manure behind the barn. That pile can be a constant chore and a source of flies, or it can be the beginning of rich, dark compost for your garden. The difference often comes down to one simple choice you make long before you ever pick up a pitchfork: your stall bedding.
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Why Bedding Choice Impacts Your Compost Pile
The secret to great compost is the right recipe, and your stall clean-out is the primary ingredient. Think of it as a balance of "greens" and "browns." Manure is your nitrogen-rich green, the fuel that heats up the pile. Your bedding is the carbon-rich brown, the structure that provides air pockets and keeps the pile from turning into a slimy mess.
The type of bedding you choose directly impacts this carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Some materials, like big wood chips, are so high in carbon they can actually stall the composting process, taking years to break down. Others, like straw, have a C:N ratio that complements manure perfectly, creating a pile that heats up fast and breaks down evenly.
Absorbency also plays a crucial role long before the bedding hits the compost bin. A more absorbent bedding means a drier stall and less ammonia. It also means you’re not adding excessive moisture to your compost pile, which helps maintain the aerobic conditions microbes need to thrive. The choice you make for your animal’s comfort has a direct and powerful effect on the quality of your future soil.
Standlee Premium Pine Shavings for Fluffy Stalls
Pine shavings are the go-to for many because they are widely available, absorbent, and create a comfortable, cushioned bed. They do a great job of soaking up moisture and controlling odor inside the barn. When it comes to composting, however, not all shavings are created equal. The key is particle size.
The large, fluffy flakes you see in some bags look great in the stall but can be a nightmare in the compost pile. They mat down, resist decomposition, and can lock up nitrogen for a season or more. Instead, opt for fine or small-flake shavings. These smaller particles have more surface area for microbes to work on, allowing them to break down much more quickly.
A pile heavy with pine shavings will always be carbon-heavy. To get it cooking, you’ll need to ensure a good mix of manure or even add other nitrogen sources like grass clippings. If your pile is slow to heat up and full of visible wood flakes after a few months, your bedding is likely the culprit.
Chopped Wheat Straw: The Timeless Compost Gold
There’s a reason old-timers swear by straw. When it comes to creating fast, beautiful compost, nothing beats it. Straw has a near-perfect carbon-to-nitrogen ratio when mixed with manure from a heavily used stall. It breaks down quickly, adds wonderful structure to the finished compost, and is often one of the most affordable options.
The main tradeoff with straw is its absorbency. It’s not as effective as wood products at soaking up urine, which can lead to wetter stalls that need to be cleaned more frequently. This can be a deal-breaker for some, but for those focused on the compost end-game, it’s a manageable issue.
The single best thing you can do is use chopped straw. You can buy it pre-chopped or run a mower over a spread-out bale. The smaller pieces are easier to muck out and, more importantly, they decompose exponentially faster in the compost pile. A pile made with chopped straw and manure will get hot and start transforming into black gold in record time.
Tractor Supply Pellets: Absorbent & Fast to Rot
Pelleted bedding is a modern solution that happens to be fantastic for composting. These pellets are just compressed, kiln-dried pine sawdust. In the stall, you lightly mist them with water, and they expand into a soft, incredibly absorbent, sawdust-like material that locks away moisture and odor.
Because the bedding is essentially fine sawdust, its particle size is perfect for rapid decomposition. There are no large wood flakes to slow things down. The material integrates seamlessly with manure, creating a uniform mixture that microbes can break down with incredible efficiency. Many find that a compost pile made from pelleted bedding is one of the fastest to finish.
The primary consideration here is cost and the initial labor. Pellets can be more expensive per bag than shavings or straw, and they require the extra step of watering them to "fluff" them up. However, the reduced waste, high absorbency, and lightning-fast composting make them a top contender, especially for smaller operations where time and ease of use are paramount.
Old Dominion Hemp Bedding: A Sustainable Choice
Keep your animal enclosures fresh with Dominion Hemp Bedding. This USA-grown hemp absorbs 4x its weight in moisture and is low-dust for a comfortable environment for chickens, rabbits, and other small pets.
Hemp bedding is rapidly gaining a following, and for good reason. Sourced from the woody core of the hemp plant, it’s a highly sustainable and absorbent option. It can absorb up to four times its weight in moisture, making it a powerhouse for keeping stalls dry and controlling ammonia.
From a composting perspective, hemp is a dream. The porous, lightweight structure breaks down very quickly, even faster than fine pine shavings. It doesn’t clump or mat in the compost pile, which helps with aeration and encourages healthy microbial activity. The resulting compost is often dark, rich, and loamy.
The biggest challenge with hemp bedding is often availability and price. It’s not yet carried in every feed store, and it typically comes at a premium cost compared to pine or straw. But for those who can source it and are willing to invest, it offers an unbeatable combination of in-stall performance and compost-ability.
Premier Peat Moss for Ammonia Control & Rich Soil
While unconventional, peat moss is an incredibly effective bedding material, particularly for small animals like chickens or for use as a base layer in horse stalls. Its absorbency is legendary, and it does an unmatched job of absorbing ammonia, which keeps the barn smelling fresh.
In the compost pile, peat moss is a superstar. It holds moisture, adds a tremendous amount of stable organic matter, and contributes to a beautiful, crumbly texture in the finished product. Because peat is naturally acidic, it can also be a great amendment for those dealing with alkaline garden soils.
The significant tradeoff with peat moss is its sustainability. Peat bogs are unique ecosystems that take thousands of years to form, and harvesting it is a mining process. While it works wonders in the stall and compost pile, it’s crucial to weigh that performance against the environmental impact of its sourcing.
FibreDust Coco Coir: A pH Neutral Bedding Option
Coco coir is a byproduct of the coconut industry, making it a wonderfully renewable and eco-friendly bedding choice. Made from shredded coconut husks, this material is low-dust, surprisingly absorbent, and naturally resistant to mold and mildew. It provides a soft, springy bed for animals.
When it comes to composting, coco coir is a fantastic addition. It breaks down readily, adding a light, airy structure to the final compost that improves soil drainage and aeration. One of its most significant advantages is its neutral pH. Unlike pine shavings (acidic) or hardwood shavings (sometimes alkaline), coco coir won’t significantly alter your soil’s chemistry.
Like hemp, the main hurdles are cost and availability. It often comes in compressed bricks that must be rehydrated before use, which adds a step to your stall-cleaning routine. However, for gardeners who are particular about their soil pH and want a sustainable bedding source, coco coir is an excellent, if premium, choice.
Turning Manure and Bedding into Black Gold
Ultimately, the goal is to transform a waste product into a valuable asset. The right bedding is the foundation of that process. A well-managed compost pile should be hot in the center, moist like a wrung-out sponge, and smell earthy, not foul. Your bedding choice is the single biggest factor in achieving this.
If you choose a material that breaks down slowly, like large wood chips, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle. Your pile will be cold, static, and may take years to become usable soil. But if you start with something like chopped straw or pelleted bedding, you’re giving the microbes exactly what they need to get to work.
Don’t think of bedding as just something to absorb moisture in the stall. Think of it as the first step in feeding your garden for the next season. By choosing a bedding that composts easily, you save yourself time, reduce pests around the barn, and create a high-quality soil amendment that will make your vegetables and flowers thrive.
The work you do mucking a stall is a direct investment in the health of your land. Choosing your bedding with the compost pile in mind is one of the smartest, simplest ways to close that loop, turning today’s chores into next year’s harvest.
