Hay for my first time layers nests!

[Flame80]

Heading to the feed store today to buy my 1st bag of laying pellets. My white leghorns may start laying within the next 2 weeks. I want to clean the coop out of wood chips and start fresh. Feed store has one bail of hay for $10 but that should last me with only 3 nests a long time! Should I put hay on the floor in the coop now or still use wood chips on floor and hay in the nests? This is probably bahaya hay here in east Texas but did I read alfalfa hay is bad for chickens?

 

[sourland]

Grass hay works best in the nest boxes. I would continue with wood chips on the coop floor.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Hay is much more expensive than straw. We use rice straw as it's nice and soft and very cheap, only $4 a bale. I used to put wood chips on the floor, but now I switched and am using the straw in the nest boxes AND the floor. It's working out to be cheaper and more efficient as well. Good Luck!

 

[Flame80]

I have no idea where to buy rice straw here in deep east Texas!

 

[Percheron chick]

Nothing wrong with alfalfa. Most chickens love the leaves and it offers a Ca and protein boost.

 

[aart]

Hay is much more expensive than straw.

Depends on where you live.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I started with wheat straw in nests and pine shavings on floor.
I've mixed them together in nests and floor.
I mostly use pine shavings in nests and floor now.
In winter I mix alfalfa hay and shavings on the floor for greens and protein.

. If you use pine shavings in the nests, a 4 inch lip will help to contain shavings. GC

 

[Flame80]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Lilokieescorter]

Heading to the feed store today to buy my 1st bag of laying pellets. My white leghorns may start laying within the next 2 weeks. I want to clean the coop out of wood chips and start fresh. Feed store has one bail of hay for $10 but that should last me with only 3 nests a long time! Should I put hay on the floor in the coop now or still use wood chips on floor and hay in the nests? This is probably bahaya hay here in east Texas but did I read alfalfa hay is bad for chickens?

You could also use an oat or wheat straw, that way you can use it in the whole coop & they can scratch & eat @ the same time. This is what I use on my coop floor!

 

[Peppercorngal]

I have no idea where to buy rice straw here in deep east Texas!

Yeah, I guess Texas is not rice growing country. We have a lot of Almonds, Peaches and Rice growing around here.