Egg boxes

[woodmort]

At various times I've used pine shaving and oat straw. Neither lasted very long--the shavings got kicked out and the straw was eaten. Finally I went to astroturf pads--work well, cushion the eggs and, when they get dirty, just spray them off and dry. Chickens seem to like them as well. While they are initially expensive, over time they will pay for themselves.

 

[Montanomom3]

Even if you didn't have any hens kicking the bedding out, it would fall out on its own through regular use. A lip on the bottom front of the box is essential no matter what the hens do. They like to make a depression in the center of the nest, without something to hold bedding in, it will fall out.

Well the thing is we had other hens for 5 years before with these same boxes and this never happened. I filled the bedding and watched that one hen jump in the box stand there and kick everything out not 2 minutes later and then jump back down and go on about her day lol

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Keep chickens long enough and you'll encounter all sorts of aberrations.
I too have used every conceivable type of bedding. IMO, the 2 best are excelsior nest pads and plastic. The excelsior must be much more comfortable because I've had lots of hens go broody on excelsior but never on plastic. Once I had a broody on excelsior and I decided to move her to her own building. I put her eggs on a plastic nest pad in the new building and she refused to sit on them. I took out the plastic, replaced it with excelsior and returned the eggs. She immediately went in and sat.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Easy and cheap way to add a lip is getting some cheap wood like furring strips and just screw them in at the edges of your box. 2-3 strips high should do, it'll run you maybe $2 plus some screws.

 

[Montanomom3]

Easy and cheap way to add a lip is getting some cheap wood like furring strips and just screw them in at the edges of your box. 2-3 strips high should do, it'll run you maybe $2 plus some screws.

Luckily my husband is a carpenter so we have plenty of wood to go around

 

[Ponte]

Mine started laying a few weeks ago. Before she started laying she would get in her nesting box and remove most of the hay. I turned a few eggs out of pine and placed them in the box, she began removing the pine eggs but leaving the hay in place. Maybe yours need to be distracted by giving her something besides the hay to kick out.

 

[Foxinthehenhouse]

I use the plastic nesting boxes I purchased at the feed store for $18 each. I really like the way they attach to the wall, they can be easily removed for periodic cleaning. The inside angels down with ventilation strips. I use fresh hay and haven’t had trouble with bedding being pushed out probably because of the way the box is built.

 

[Montanomom3]

Update: i added a 5” tall board to the front of the boxes and it worked! She is now laying in the box and keeping the original bedding in. She was the first one to start laying and my lakenvelder is laying as well. So now just 3 more to start which are the same age as my lakenvelder. 2 lavender ameraucana and a black copper maran.

 

[aart]

Update: i added a 5” tall board to the front of the boxes and it worked! She is now laying in the box and keeping the original bedding in. She was the first one to start laying and my lakenvelder is laying as well. So now just 3 more to start which are the same age as my lakenvelder. 2 lavender ameraucana and a black copper maran.

Excellent!!
Thanks for updating!

 

[Montanomom3]

Excellent!!
Thanks for updating!

No, thank everyone for the great advice! Now just waiting on 2 of my hens to start laying. They are the same age as the others who have been laying for a few weeks hoping it happens soon!