Attached Link: Irish cottage

     If your system balked at rendering one array of reeds, I would think it likely to do the same for another model composed of umpteen individual sticks.

     Acadia's idea is probably your best option - a simple low poly shape with displacement giving it a complex appearance.

     The thatch bundles on this cottage are octagonal tubing, with displacement.

Poser 12, in feet.  

OSes:  Win7Prox64, Win7Ultx64

Silo Pro 2.5.6 64bit, Vue Infinite 2014.7, Genetica 4.0 Studio, UV Mapper Pro, UV Layout Pro, PhotoImpact X3, GIF Animator 5