I need some ideas. Broken eggs.

[lavacaw]

I took some old pieces of carpet and cut to fit the bottom of the nest boxes and put it under the hay. They scratch out the hay but the carpet stays put and keeps the eggs from breaking. If it gets yucky, I toss it and cut another piece.

 

[sewchick]

I am glad they have not become egg eaters yet. I am afraid they might if I don't get this done this weekend. I thought about nailing down an old mouse pad and covering it with the hay until I can get to Bangor. They are out today and the eggs don't break in the grass. Thanks for all your great suggestions.

 

[frog522]

Quote:
Are you talking about the thin, foam kind? We have those in our kitchen cupboards, I never thought about using them in the egg boxes. I have noticed recently that my chickens have been kicking and scratching out most of the wood shavings into their nest box until they reach the painted plywood underneath. Would the non-slip pads survive their clawing abuse??

 

[frog522]

Quote:
I not sure if the rubber floor tiles you're referring to are the same ones I'm imagining. Do you think you could link an picture of what these rubber floor tiles look like? Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Silkies don't like to go up ramps or roost in general (although some people have some Silkies that do). Mine have yet to lay eggs for me.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=92702

 

[schatze17]

My husband stapled some artificial grass squares onto the floor of the nesting boxes. We also left some hay on top so that the chickens have something to play around with while they are laying their eggs.

No more broken or cracked eggs!

 

[SunnyDawn]

Artificial grass is also a great idea! It would also wash off easily (well as long as it was a low nap).

Here is a web site with the tiles I was talking about. Don't be thrown by the plastic packaging around the set of 4 in the first pic. That's just wrap for each set of four tiles. They are $15.84 for a set of 4 and I cut them into smaller pieces and staple them in (not a normal stapler, I use a staple gun that uses brads and hooks up to our compressor). 1 tile makes 4 pads for my nests, which are 14"x14", so 4 tiles cover 16 nests (I have 7 nests so I've stored the excess in case they eventually wear out). This does leave a 1" bare spot around the edges, all around, but with the sides of my nests being 4" high they aren't able to scratch all the hay out, so the edges are still well cushioned. This has worked very well for me and I find the tiles very easy to clean without having to remove them.

http://www.greatmats.com/products/foamspecial.php

 

[schatze17]

The artificial grass is low cut, so the chickens aren't unbalanced, etc. Our hardware store sells it as a yard roll, cut by foot (I got a 1' x 3' patch for about $2). It keeps clean, is easy to clean, easy to cut and staple and gives the girls something pretty to look at during labor. LOL

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:

Sounds like a great alternative.

 

[frog522]

Thanks for the links and great ideas!

I'll check out the rubber mat tiles and artificial grass.