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Best filler material for nesting/egg boxes - Page 2

post #11 of 20
2/17/08 at 6:02am

Same problem here!  Four girls pile into the box and one leans into it from the outside of box...Maybe built something that can slide into place in the evening and be removed in the morning?

Eat dessert first, after all life is uncertain!
2 rir's, 1 silver & 1 gold wyandotte, 2 buff & 1 black bantam cochins, 1 buff orp, 2 easter eggers, 1 bantam silkie mix, 1 maine coon cat, 2 DSs, a VERY patient DH and the newest addition is a munchkin Boston Terrier!!!
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Eat dessert first, after all life is uncertain!
2 rir's, 1 silver & 1 gold wyandotte, 2 buff & 1 black bantam cochins, 1 buff orp, 2 easter eggers, 1 bantam silkie mix, 1 maine coon cat, 2 DSs, a VERY patient DH and the newest addition is a munchkin Boston Terrier!!!
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post #12 of 20
2/17/08 at 6:05am
Thread Starter 

I was thinking a square of plywood with a support to stand on the back (kind of like a picture frame).  I am hoping that this would be a temporary routine, only until they learn to sleep on the roosts.  What do you think?

Stone Echo Chick
Animals include: Flat Coat retriever, 23 Easter Egg Chickens, 1 Happy Roo, 2 Teen Boys, 1 College bound girl and a Husband...more animals to come....
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Stone Echo Chick
Animals include: Flat Coat retriever, 23 Easter Egg Chickens, 1 Happy Roo, 2 Teen Boys, 1 College bound girl and a Husband...more animals to come....
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post #13 of 20
2/17/08 at 6:07am
Thread Starter 

Thanks egh,
Boy your coop is clean.  My 24 birds make a heck of a mess...  Maybe I will just change the bedding everyday...

Stone Echo Chick
Animals include: Flat Coat retriever, 23 Easter Egg Chickens, 1 Happy Roo, 2 Teen Boys, 1 College bound girl and a Husband...more animals to come....
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Stone Echo Chick
Animals include: Flat Coat retriever, 23 Easter Egg Chickens, 1 Happy Roo, 2 Teen Boys, 1 College bound girl and a Husband...more animals to come....
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post #14 of 20
2/17/08 at 6:26am

I use shavings with only a couple handfuls of hay.  I know someone has been snuggling in there, but I haven't caught anyone yet.  It's probably the girl that just started laying. (my first!)

Mom to 6 barn cats, 3 australorp hens, 1 BO hens, 1 BO roo,  1 Delaware, 1 Barred Rock roo, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 horses, 2 bunnies,  39 new chicks, 1 great Hubby, 8 grown kids (his and hers)  and my darling 16 grandchildren. 
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Mom to 6 barn cats, 3 australorp hens, 1 BO hens, 1 BO roo,  1 Delaware, 1 Barred Rock roo, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 horses, 2 bunnies,  39 new chicks, 1 great Hubby, 8 grown kids (his and hers)  and my darling 16 grandchildren. 
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post #15 of 20
2/17/08 at 6:55am
Thread Starter 

Maybe Ill put mostly hay with shredded paper on top. ...
Still would like them to learn to sleep on the roosts not in the boxes

Stone Echo Chick
Animals include: Flat Coat retriever, 23 Easter Egg Chickens, 1 Happy Roo, 2 Teen Boys, 1 College bound girl and a Husband...more animals to come....
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Stone Echo Chick
Animals include: Flat Coat retriever, 23 Easter Egg Chickens, 1 Happy Roo, 2 Teen Boys, 1 College bound girl and a Husband...more animals to come....
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post #16 of 20
2/17/08 at 7:13am

I use Timothy grass in the nests.  It packs into a perfect bowl shape for them and smell really fresh like cut grass.  It seems to stay in the nest boxes really well and is softer than straw.  My hens never sleep in their nest boxes, only on the roosts so I don't have a problem with them staying clean.

Happy mom and personal assistant to 1 grown son, 1 grown daughter, 1 DH,  2 Greyhounds, 2 GSPs, 1 tiny Pom, 1 lovely mutt, all rescues, (the dogs that is)  7 standard hens, 4 Silkies, 4 goats,  all very spoiled and pampered. Grandma to two beautiful little girls.
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Happy mom and personal assistant to 1 grown son, 1 grown daughter, 1 DH,  2 Greyhounds, 2 GSPs, 1 tiny Pom, 1 lovely mutt, all rescues, (the dogs that is)  7 standard hens, 4 Silkies, 4 goats,  all very spoiled and pampered. Grandma to two beautiful little girls.
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post #17 of 20
2/17/08 at 8:19am
Thread Starter 

Heres a silly question...Timothy hay and grass the same thing?

Stone Echo Chick
Animals include: Flat Coat retriever, 23 Easter Egg Chickens, 1 Happy Roo, 2 Teen Boys, 1 College bound girl and a Husband...more animals to come....
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Stone Echo Chick
Animals include: Flat Coat retriever, 23 Easter Egg Chickens, 1 Happy Roo, 2 Teen Boys, 1 College bound girl and a Husband...more animals to come....
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post #18 of 20
2/18/08 at 10:41am

I read of one person who uses dryer lint.  I use color/frangrance free detergent and dryer sheets, so all that dryer lint might find a useful home once the nests are needed.  smile

I also read of another person who put an empty gallon milk jug in the nest boxes at night until her hens stopped sleeping there.

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post #19 of 20
2/18/08 at 10:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunnysidecluckers 

Hey Wildsky!! Cool idea for nesting box!! I think I just might steal that idea from you..lol


gig Go for it - its the lazy man's nest box, but the girls do love them!

Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion!
BYC member #4418
http://cherylmercer.blogspot.com/
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Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion!
BYC member #4418
http://cherylmercer.blogspot.com/
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post #20 of 20
2/18/08 at 10:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StoneEchoChick 

Heres a silly question...Timothy hay and grass the same thing?


Typically not. In WA we get timothy, orchard grass, alfalfa and TEFF hay at the feed stores. Timothy is a grass, but it's a specific KIND of grass which grows well in eastern WA. Other kinds are fescue (lots of different varieties), bermuda, salt grass, brome. It all depends on where you live and where your hay comes from.

Liz, Ben & Jackson Clark (plus horses, ponies, goats, dogs, cats, and FINALLY chickens)
Cowgirl Up! - Our BYC page
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Liz, Ben & Jackson Clark (plus horses, ponies, goats, dogs, cats, and FINALLY chickens)
Cowgirl Up! - Our BYC page
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance › Best filler material for nesting/egg boxes