The best (and worst) bedding for your homestead pigs

The best bedding for pigs is wheat straw because it is readily available, easily accessible, and generally affordable. It is absorbent, comfortable, and decomposes well. Wheat straw is versatile and can be used for many different livestock such as chickens, goats, cows, and more. Corn, oat, barley, or canary seed straw are also commonly used. Flax and rape seed straw are often avoided, but can be used for different purposes such as base-layer bedding, or coverage in high-traffic muddy areas. 

If you’re anything like me, you’ve moved to the country and want to try anything and everything- all at once! My progression quickly went from laying hens…to a big garden… meat chickens… kunekune pigs….an even bigger garden… dairy goats…rabbits… more chickens!

First things first: before you bring your pigs home, do yourself a favour and have a secure pen, two rubber feed pans (one for food and one for water) and lots of fresh bedding laid out. 

What is the purpose of bedding for pigs?

We provide bedding for our pigs to help them stay warm in the winter, to offer a comfortable place to sleep and lounge, and keep them happy and entertained; eating and rooting in the straw pile. 

Contrary to popular belief, pigs are extremely clean. They will not poo in their bed! They choose a designated area and do their business there. Straw or the like will be used to cover the poo (a deep bedding method is recommended for indoor set ups) and to create a cozy sleeping, bedding area. 

Temperature Control

Clean bedding helps the pigs control their body temperature. In the winter months,  they will use a lot of material to completely burry themselves under. As the material decomposes it will give off additional heat, creating a warm nest. During the summer, they will spread out their bedding and find a cool spot to lay.

Pigs do not sweat, so it is important to have shade readily available. They will need a muddy wallow to stay cool in. 

Comfort

Pigs choose to sleep and lounge on comfortable bedding. 

For an indoor environment, the deep-bedding method will be a good option and create valuable composted manure and provide ideal odour control. Continue adding layers and layers of fresh straw throughout the pen to keep the entire area clean and fresh. Clean out every six months.  

Enrichment

This simply refer to the fact that the pigs will eat some of their bedding (this is why it is important to choose safe bedding!). Hogs will enjoy digging and rooting through the bedding material. Some farmers have chosen to sprinkle grain in the base layer to encourage the animals to turn the material and aerate the composting pile. 

A clean pig is a happy, healthy pig. One exception- a pig covered in mud lounging in the shade on a hot summer day is a filthy, happy, healthy pig.  A clean environment will eliminate the vast majority of health problems animals can be faced with. 

Types of livestock bedding

Cereal straws, such as wheat, oat and barley are the most popular bedding for pigs. Corn stalk is a very popular bedding type in the USA. 

Flax Straw

Flax straw does not breakdown, which is problematic when using a deep-litter method. However, this kind of bedding is a great choice for muddy areas, or as a base layer to ensure the animals stay dry and warm.

Wheat Straw

Wheat straw is the most common choice for pig bedding because it is easily accessible. Although during years of drought there have been shortages of hay and straw bales.

Farmer’s have been forced to consider alternative sources such as paper-based bedding like shredded drywall paper; or sawdust from furniture plants, composted manure, peat moss, even mushroom farm compost¹.

Oat Straw

Oat straw is one of the most absorbent options available, even more so than both wheat and barley straw.

Barley Straw

This sturdy material doesn’t break down as quickly as wheat, but is still a useful and versatile bedding option. It does not need to be reserved strictly for a bottom layer.

Corn Stalk/ Corn Straw

Corn stalk is a commonly used bedding for pigs since it is available in abundance in many regions.

Hay

Hay is likely the most expensive option. If we have old hay that our goats won’t eat, we will use it for bedding with our Kunekune pigs. The pigs love to nibble on it. All pigs will eat a portion of their bedding, not just the Kunekune breed.

Wood Chips

Wood chip bedding material must be free of staples and nails! Ensure the wood chips are from untreated lumber. Wood chips provide good drainage, guaranteeing that the top layer stays dry. Home chipped trees, pruning, and dead fall are excellent bedding options.

Pine Shavings

Pine shavings or aspen wood shavings can be purchased from your local feed store in 78 L bales. Shavings are not an ideal choice as the pigs will eventually begin eating the shavings and this is not beneficial for their digestive system.

Natural Paper

Shredded paper or cardboard can be used as bedding for pigs. Keep in mind that this type of bedding needs to be changed frequently because it creates a hard mass of paper pulp when it gets wet.

Elephant Grass

A very absorbent option that composts quickly. A useful selection if available in your area.

Bean Straw

Unfortunately, a very uncomfortable option as it is splintery, coarse, and fragile. Choose this for a base layer.

Hemp Straw

Hemp straw has a very absorbent and pleasantly soft texture. You may reconsider using it for hairy pigs as the fibres stick to everything. It’s definitely not ideal for fleece or wooly livestock.

Rape Straw

Straw from seed oil plants, such as canola, have abundant natural oils present and can be difficult to dry. This material is also much more flammable than other types of straw. Use as a bottom layer if needed.

Choosing the right bedding for your pigs

Choose a material that is dry, but not overly dusty. Do not use mouldy straw or hay because it can have adverse effects on the pigs respiratory system. 

It’s a good idea to consider combining different options, especially if you are having difficulty sourcing a certain type of bedding.  Use a coarse, sturdy bedding for a base layer, then cover with more a comfortable option.

There are so many options available, it may feel overwhelming to make the ‘right choice’-

The type of pig bedding that is most readily available, and which makes the most sense economically, is the ‘right choice’!

Helpful Hint: When using supplemental heat like a heat lamp, be cautious of fire hazards. Wood chips and shavings are less flammable than loose straw. 

How much bedding do I need?

​The goal is to use enough bedding to make sure the top layer remains dry. 

I prefer to use small square bales because they are easier to move around. Unfortunately, they can be tricky to come by in my area, so I often have a neighbour drop off one or two large round bales. This will be enough for our chickens, goats, and pigs over the winter and into the spring. 

A sow with piglets will need 240 lbs of straw. A small square bale weighs around 50-75 lbs, therefore you will need 5 bales for bedding.

Younger pigs (weanlings) will also need 240 lbs of straw until they reach market weight.

A farrowing sow will require the added benefit of significantly more bedding, 10 times more to be exact! Have 50 small bales on hand for farrow bedding in the cold months.

Helpful hint: Your pigs will require 1/3 less bedding during the summer months. 

With pigs on pasture and rotational grazing, we often don’t use bedding at all. They still choose to sleep in their covered hut, but we move it to a new spot every few days on their home paddock, otherwise they destroy the grass underneath. 

You may only be raising you feeder pigs for a few months before they are ready to butcher. Most commonly, people raise them over the summer and are ready to butcher in the late fall before the ultra cold weather.

In this case, you will only need straw for their bedding area. You hogs won’t need bedding for warmth or farrowing. It’s a good idea to have some extra on hand if they are in a small enclosure for it may become excessively muddy.

Bad idea: The worst bedding for pigs

• used bedding from other animals- even if it doesn’t appear visibly soiled, don’t risk spreading disease and contaminates
• recycled rubber or shredded rubber
• glossy paper
•  bracken- a fern like plant with carcinogenic leaves which can cause serious health issues
• wood chips that are treated, or contain glue, paint, staples, or nails
• fine saw dust or ultra fine shavings
• cedar shavings which can contribute to respiratory problems 

How to dispose of soiled pig bedding?

A large hog operation will need permits and follow specific policy for disposing of used straw and bedding. Contact your local municipality or county for specific regulations.

A small scale operation such as for personal use or a typical homestead, can compost the used bedding material. It is not recommended to use pig manure around edible plants.

Properly composted manure will prevent the spread of parasites or disease. The compost heap must reach temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit to effectively kill bacteria. This will take a minimum of 4 months with regular turning and watering of the manure pile².

Alternatively, you may choose to use the bedding as mulch around trees. Along with preserving moisture and smoothing weeds, it will compost, adding beneficial nutrients for your trees.

If it is acceptable in your area, you may decide to burn your used bedding material.

Where to find bedding for your homestead pigs

• A local feed store or pet store will sell wood shaving bedding. It is typically in a 78 L ‘bale’. They will also carry smaller quantities of shredded paper or cardboard bedding, however this would be more appropriate as pet pig and guinea pig bedding.
• You will find straw bales listed on Craig’s List, Kijiji, and Facebook Marketplace.
• Barter and trade. Build relationships with neighbours and consider trading. Hint: If you notice a broken bale in a field, the owner will most likely be happy to let you pitch it into a trailer. It’s easy to send a text or make a phone call to ask. Broken bales that cannot be transported are often burned before spring planting.

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You may be interested in

More great sources

• Bedding Materials for Pigs> Developing the Pig Sector in Wales> March 2021> mentormochcymru.co.uk
• Alternative Bedding Materials> Farm Advisory of Service of Scotland> www.fas.scot
• Niche Pork Production Bedding Management> Peter James Lammers, David R Stender, Mark S Honeyman> Iowa Pork Industry Center>ipic.iastate.edu

1. Alternative bedding materials for livestock>Ontaria.ca>revised by Benoit Lebeau, Rajan Niraula, and Harold House. ↩︎
2. Composting Animal Manures: A guide to the Process and management of animal manure compost>Mary A Keena> North Dakota State University>ndsu.edu.com ↩︎