Alfalfa in the chicken yard

A few years ago I had some crummy weedy wood chips. I put the giant pile in the chicken yard and made the chickens very happy. Then they made me very happy by spreading the word chips all over. Over the last few years any time I needed soil I would take it from the chicken yard. It was lovely stuff.
It's now completely decomposed. The other day I wanted some soil to add to the bottom of a pot. I went with my bucket, and came out empty handed. The soil was like concrete.
I don't have any compromised wood chips. I do have some good wood chips, but I need them for other spaces. I'm going to ask for more, but in the meantime I was thinking about buying a Bale of alfalfa. Straw would be cheaper, but I was thinking if I wet down the alfalfa I would probably get sprouts, and it would not only be entertainment, and ground cover, but also a little snack now and then.
I was wondering if anyone has tried this? I can buy pine wood chips relatively cheap from my work, and straw is pretty inexpensive for me. I just thought with the higher nitrogen, and possibility of sprouting that it might be the better option.  What do you think?