Hay or Straw for Nest Boxes?

[ambermarie]

I need to go ahead and set-up my chickens nest boxes...but what do I use? Hay or Straw? PLEASE HELP!

 

[Dirt Road]

I use shavings. They stay relatively clean, and don't have to be replaced nearly as often as hay or straw. If you are determined to use one or the other, straw will not mold as bad as hay.

Jim

 

[katrinag]

I try to use pine shavings. However since a major price jump I have started using hay and straw. Whatever I can find cheap. They will both get moldy on you. I just make sure I change them every couple days.
I also dust the top of the hay/straw with Sevin dust.

DO NOT USE CEDAR BEDDING. It is toxic to chickens.

 

[Warfrost]

I'd suggest shavings...they are cheaper at the feed stores than at the pet stores. Hay or straw tends to be a lot warmer, so I'd also where you are at- here in California we're having a heat snap, so straw or hay would overheat the ladies. Also, hay and straw does tend to get dirty and moldy faster- so you'll be changing it more often.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

I used straw over shavings to begin with and my hens threw it all out. I checked on them one time and there was Sally literately picking piece by piece out and throwing on the ground. It was a hoot - she looked at me like this stuff is awful.

So changed to just pine shavings and they all really like it.

Also, you will notice that they may use only one or two of the nesting boxes. Mine use only two of the four and sometimes the floor in one particular corner.

 

[Mikeeeeeeeeee]

Pine Shavings.......the girls like them better.

 

[Cats Critters]

I use pine shavings, I at one point used hay but they pushed it all to the sides and broke a ton of eggs on the plain wood.

 

[KellyHM]

Hay works fine for me. I've tried shavings and they kick them all out of the box when they're scratching around building their nest.

 

[TammyTX]

Quote:

 

[2DogsFarm]

Glad to hear so many here have laying hens who like pine shavings in the boxes.
That what I set up in my "nestboxes" (old fruit crates) for my future layers

I get mine at the feedstore in 40# bales for around $7 (cheaper if you buy more than 5)
I used 1/2 a bale for the floor of my coop and in the boxes and after a month they are still clean, dry & fluffy.
I scoop & sweep poop daily and have dusted underneath the shavings on the coop floor with Sevin.