1/2 Straw and 1/2 Pine Shavings

[MommyMagpie]

We tried hay/straw and hated it. It got smelly, it compacted into a cementlike mess on the floor, it was just awful. I tried only using it in the nest boxes but they kicked it out into the coop, then laid their eggs on the floor. We use shavings everywhere and are much happier. Like a lot of stuff, though, it depends on your setup and your chickens. It might work for you.

 

[BeetleChick]

Our chickens have pine straw in their nesting boxes and dry leaves on the floor. Both are free and plentiful here. Our chickens threw the leaves out of their nesting boxes.

 

[WriterChick]

When the girls were getting ready to lay, I lined nest boxes with straw so they could "practice." Well they proceeded to empty the boxes of every single piece of straw and ran around the brooder screeching (their way of playing keep-away). It was a mess, but I kept with it for a couple of days since I was told they prefer it for nesting. In the end the first pullet laid her egg on the floor in a little depression she made in the pine shavings.

After that I just filled the nest boxes with pine shavings and they love it. The girls build up the sides of the boxes and create a little "bowl" where they lay. For the actual box I use those plastic stackable bins - but unstacked - and fill it with a LOT of pine shavings.

 

[SteveBaz]

Quote:

The things we do for our girls and guy sometimes

 

[so lucky]

SteveBaz, My nest boxes never get wet (of course, I haven't had to collect eggs in a pouring rain due to the drought) and the girls have never pooped in them. I have straw and pinestraw in them. They have their nests made, and don't rearrange them. I know I will jinx this by bragging about it. Just watch!