/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

Is it safe to use fabric scraps in nesting boxes?

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by Starby, Aug 12, 2015.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Aug 12, 2015 #1
    Starby

    Starby Out Of The Brooder

    12
    2
    26
    Apr 5, 2015
    So, I cannot seem to find much information on alternative nesting materials. We got our first egg yesterday, yay! So exciting. For now the nesting boxes just have pine shavings and that seems to work great. However, I sew and crochet a lot. I have a lot of "serger spaghetti" and yarn scraps saved up in a box. I sometimes use it as stuffing for projects. Is it safe to use this type of material in the nesting boxes for the girls? Just thought it'd be nice and cozy for them but thought I should check with the experts! Sorry if this is a dumb question.
     
  3. Aug 12, 2015 #2
    Percheron chick

    Percheron chick Chillin' With My Peeps

    3,245
    376
    218
    Apr 12, 2013
    Boulder, Colorado
    I wouldn't. They try to eat everything. Strings from the feed bags get tangled around their feet if you don't pick them up and they run around with little hobbles. You also want natural compostable products in your coop and nesting boxes.
     
  4. Aug 12, 2015 #3
    Starby

    Starby Out Of The Brooder

    12
    2
    26
    Apr 5, 2015
    Exactly the kind of answer I was looking for, thank you!! They sure do eat everything...sheesh!
     
  5. Aug 12, 2015 #4
    azygous

    azygous Overrun With Chickens

    8,897
    1,714
    388
    Dec 11, 2009
    Colorado Rockies
    A very cheap and excellent alternative nesting material is newspaper. I use it with great success in my infirmary crate and as nesting material in the nest boxes sometimes. I have a small paper cutter, and I cut it in narrow strips, about half an inch in width. It forms a very fluffy nest,is very absorbent, and the chickens seem to like it just fine.
     
  6. Dec 14, 2015 #5
    Joshchicken11

    Joshchicken11 New Egg

    3
    0
    7
    Jan 28, 2015
    Yeah, I agree. My younger brother Shreds [​IMG] paper 24/7. So we have two garbage bins full of paper! It works great!
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by