Any ideas for nesting material?

[Feathers everywere]

I usually use dried grass in my nests and it works great. But my chickens poop so much on these nests causing it to not look too great. I do scoop out the poop when i get the chance but it's alot of poop. Does anyone have an idea for me on what material to use for them that makes poop scooping easier? Or an idea to get them to stop pooping in the nests? Further details i have on the nests it that it's only the top nests that has all the poop and the hens only use the top nests for egg laying. As for the bottom nests they keep throwing out the grass even though i put a stop in the front of the nest so they can not throw out the grass. Also they share with a rooster so idk if he is the one that poops this much because ik some of our previous roosters will only sleep in the egg nests and poop it full.

 

[kattabelly]

Are they sleeping in the nests, or spending time there during the day when they aren't laying? How high are the nests relative to the roosts?

 

[nuthatched]

I use straw.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I usually use dried grass in my nests and it works great. But my chickens poop so much on these nests causing it to not look too great. I do scoop out the poop when i get the chance but it's alot of poop. Does anyone have an idea for me on what material to use for them that makes poop scooping easier? Or an idea to get them to stop pooping in the nests? Further details i have on the nests it that it's only the top nests that has all the poop and the hens only use the top nests for egg laying. As for the bottom nests they keep throwing out the grass even though i put a stop in the front of the nest so they can not throw out the grass. Also they share with a rooster so idk if he is the one that poops this much because ik some of our previous roosters will only sleep in the egg nests and poop it full.

Chickens don't commonly poop in their nest boxes. Where do you have them situated in comparison to the rest of their coop and run? (high, low, under a roost bar, etc.)

I use hemp in my nest boxes for five laying chickens, and I love it, and so do the girls. Lightweight, fluffy, no dust, doesn't break down; easy to scratch around and create their little nests. Each bag is definitely pricey, but I only change the hemp every 4-5 weeks, just dumping on the run floor. After a year, I'm still on the same box.

If I ever do have to scoop anything out, a cat litter scooper works great, because the hemp falls right through the scooper openings.

https://eatonpetandpasture.com/prod...-YATz9KAOx5XFYfoN3dOLdMIpgkxzRsenCRMjWn9FByJI

Manufacturer's photo just to illustrate what it looks like:

 

[Ridgerunner]

I usually use dried grass in my nests and it works great. But my chickens poop so much on these nests causing it to not look too great. I do scoop out the poop when i get the chance but it's alot of poop. Does anyone have an idea for me on what material to use for them that makes poop scooping easier? Or an idea to get them to stop pooping in the nests?

Your problem is not how to scoop the poop but how to stop them from pooping in the nests to start with. So we need some information from you. When are they pooping in the nests? Do you know which ones?

If they are sleeping in there at night you need to train them to sleep somewhere else. That is a real common problem. Are the roosts higher than the nests? Usually they want to sleep in the highest place available so the roosts need to be high. Are some of them being bullied off of the roosts so the nests are a safe place to go? Are they Silkies or other chickens that can't fly so they can't get to the roosts? (Since it is the top nests, probably not but I don't know what your nests and roosts look like). There are different techniques to train them, some depending on why they are sleeping in the nests. The more you can tell us about what your nests and roosts look like, including heights and which chickens it is, the more likely we will be able to help you.

If they are in the nests during the day it can be harder to determine why. Usually it means they are hiding from other chickens. It might be hens or pullets hiding from roosters or cockerels, maybe certain ones are getting picked on and they are hiding from the bullies. Or it could be that they are overcrowded and just need the room. That can happen when weather keeps them trapped in the coop.

Further details i have on the nests it that it's only the top nests that has all the poop and the hens only use the top nests for egg laying.

With all of the poop in the upper nests it implies they are probably sleeping up there. But maybe not.

As for the bottom nests they keep throwing out the grass even though i put a stop in the front of the nest so they can not throw out the grass.

Some photos of your nest could help here. How high is that stop?

Also they share with a rooster so idk if he is the one that poops this much because ik some of our previous roosters will only sleep in the egg nests and poop it full.

This sounds like it could have been the other cockerels or roosters hiding from the dominant rooster. Do you have more than one rooster? Go out at night and see where he is sleeping. Heck, go out there at night and see where they are all sleeping. That could be important information.