Kicking bedding out of nests

[50-45-1]

Humm... well the only other thing i can think of is to darken the nest boxes.
If its dark enough they will not be able to see anything too scratch.
Add the higher lip also
Good luck!

 

[7dsranch]

I had this problem when I was using pine shavings. I changed over to hemp bedding and my girls don't scratch out the bedding anymore. I have 4 inch lip for their laying boxes. Using hemp bedding fixed my problem. It is expensive, I ordered mine on Amazon for $59.95 for 31 pounds. But I only use it in their layer boxes. I hope you find what works for you!

 

[Mrs. K]

I line my small nest boxes with cardboard. Then I put the hay in a lovely round nest shape. It should be perfect...but. Sometime they don't scratch it out, and sometimes they do.

I do like lining the nest with cardboard - someone here gave out the idea, it makes cleaning out a nest a snap, you just lift the cardboard and dump. But even when they have scratched out most of the bedding, they don't tend to crack eggs quite so easily. Sometimes it happens, but easy to clean up.

Mrs K

 

[rosemarythyme]

I do like lining the nest with cardboard - someone here gave out the idea, it makes cleaning out a nest a snap, you just lift the cardboard and dump. But even when they have scratched out most of the bedding, they don't tend to crack eggs quite so easily. Sometimes it happens, but easy to clean up.

Folded feed bags work as well, in lieu of cardboard. Fold it to fit the nest and if there's a need to clean due to breakage, just remove it and toss it.

 

[aart]

I use straw and they pretty much free range

Do you pull off a flake the straw, and wedge it into nest tightly, then bowl it out a bit?
That helps here.
Also wonder, since these are older birds and not rambunctious newly laying pullets,
if you recently got a new bales and there may be left over grains in it...
...have had that happen, they will dig for that grain.