alfalfa hay

[Darlasmum]

If you just have a few nest boxes- buy just a "flake" of the alfalfa hay. It makes the house smell good, and doesn't harbor mites like hay may.

 

[City Cajun]

Here are my thoughts. The Alfalfa is finer and more digestable as well as more nutritious for them than hay and more comfortable(I guess, Lol.....)than straw so that should prevent having the chickens get that impacted craw issue where they get sick and almost die and need surgery. (I saw that I think here) Secondly it should be more absorbant than straw. Costs more($11.00 here)but, one bale should last a long time. Smells better too.

 

[sheila3935]

I put pine shavings in my nest boxes. Tried straw they didnt like it. Tired the alfalfa they ate it.

 

[nwfl]

We use soft green grass hay for boxes, alfalfa for a treat if nothing else green is growing. In all my years and hundreds of birds I have only had one impacted crop. She was an odd eater, bark, plastic, weird stuff that didn't interest any other bird. They all love alfalfa though.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

nwfl-
Thanks for addressing my concern, I won't deny them alfalfa!

 

[saladin]

The cheapest way to feed alfalfa is Alfalfa Meal: just mix is with their feed. I never use it when there is green grass available for them to eat, but it is a great winter feed when the grass is all gone.

As to nesting material: the whole point is for nesting not eating.

 

[peepblessed]

I also feed my chickens a flake of alfalfa a week. Per pound, it is cheaper than chicken feed and they eat less chicken feed (and they have all the chicken feed they want). It's is also a natural deodorant. Coop stays smelling nice!

 

[calgal98]

since I also feed goats and horses, my chickens get a flake of hay thrown into their run whenn locked up. During the day they free range and are happy with the stuff they get out there. I use grass hay for the nest boxes and shavings.

 

[Amethyste]

Mine hate alfalfa.

I have tried different versions of it cos people said here it was good for them but...my ladies will not touch it. Picky things!!!!

 

[TwoCrows]

Alfalfa is high in protein and is very good for them. I give my girls a piece of a flake everyday and they devour it. And it seems they need less of their food because of the protein content. Go for the alfalfa! One bail goes a loooong way.

I use Bermuda Grass hay for the nest boxes and out in the run. They do love to eat it and it won't compact in the crop. If you are looking to only line the nest boxes, you could always buy a small bag of Timothy hay that is sold for rabbits just to try it out and see if your chickens like it in the boxes. Mine won't eat Timothy. If yours won't eat it either, a small bag might go a long way.