MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

MJ there is also this product: https://www.timberwood.com.au/products/versaboard.html as an alternative flooring material. It doesn't look like timberwood have a distribution centre in SA but one of the plywood suppliers around Adelaide might stock it or be able to order it in.

Edit: It looks like Burnie Timber in SA is listing versaboard as an outdoor kitchen product: https://burnietimber.com.au/products/alfresco-products/

Thanks, but I'm really not into pvc when timber is available.

 

[MaryJanet]

I use pine flakes. They are a byproduct of sawmills and are low cost here.
I have used shredded paper but strands tend to stick to the bloom of the egg.
I have used pine straw - shed needles from my own white pine trees - it is gorgeously soft but only available when I head out with a pitchfork.
Many people swear by hemp but every time I consider it, I get put off by the price.

Thanks RC. The pine needles are a bit niche and not something I could access with the time I have. I may try hemp. Will think about it.

How often do you change your nest box material? Seasonally? Weekly?

 

[MaryJanet]

I was using this: View attachment 4079711
https://www.bunnings.com.au/brunnin...fUZQI0kYGxGh0vqbxz6Ena60EOJ5SKm3PhfG3l8pKpurF from Bunnings because it is very soft and then using the cheap shavings for bedding but a neighbour gave me some bunny straw when they were moving out which worked well until the chooks ate it all... I haven't been able to find the brand that they gave me and all the other straw that I have seen is very corse and stringy. Both the Brunnings bedding and bunny straw needed replacing at about the same rate but with the Brunnings bedding it didn't matter if the chooks kicked it into their bedding, so it looks like I'm going to keep using the Brunnings until I stumble upon the straw that they gave me.

When I need shavings, I have been buying the 'Superior' brand, which has also had the dust extracted from it. It comes in bigger batches which is nice because there's a big space to fill.

But I'm not convinced shavings are the best choice for the nest box here for a couple of reasons. The nest box has vents in the floor - it came that way - and the shavings would fall through the vents. Also, I doubt it would allow the hens to make a deep bowl, which is what they love to do if they're given half a chance.

 

[Down Under]

Thanks, but I'm really not into pvc when timber is available.

That's cool. The only reason that I suggested it was that I used marine ply for my first coop and it was a nightmare to fully seal it and washing it was a hard job. On my second coop I used film faced ply, but the marine grade film faced ply was special order and ridiculously expensive so I ended up using film faced exterior building grade ply and I still had issues with sealing the edges but washing it is easier. If I build a third coop I will build it like a house framed structure so that I can insulate it and then line it with the pvc panels so that I can just hose it down when it is a mess. With the chemicals and glues used for manufacturing plywood vs the chemicals in pvc I'm not sure what is better or worse.

 

[BDutch]

Friends, what do you use in nest boxes? Are you happy with it? What are the benefits and problems?

I use straw but I'm considering changing.

I have a thin layer of sand with DE at the bottom. On top I have wood flakes and hay most of the time. I often put some tobacco and lavender in it too. And sometimes dried leaves, weeds or grass (fresh hay) from our lawn. Hemp is expensive. Shredded paper sticks. Making my own hay/dried greens costs nothing but is only doable with steady warm weather without rain.

 

[MaryJanet]

I have a thin layer of sand with DE at the bottom. On top I have wood flakes and hay most of the time. I often put some tobacco and lavender in it too. And sometimes dried leaves, weeds or grass (fresh hay) from our lawn. Hemp is expensive. Shredded paper sticks. Making my own hay/dried greens costs nothing but is only doable with steady warm weather without rain.

I like the idea of mixing different things together. How often do you put fresh material in the nest boxes?

 

[RoyalChick]

Thanks RC. The pine needles are a bit niche and not something I could access with the time I have. I may try hemp. Will think about it.

How often do you change your nest box material? Seasonally? Weekly?

Sometimes someone poops in the box or breaks an egg so obviously I change it then.
Otherwise I really only top it up now and then because they do throw it around.
I would say I probably top up roughly monthly based on them emptying it out.

 

[MaryJanet]

That's cool. The only reason that I suggested it was that I used marine ply for my first coop and it was a nightmare to fully seal it and washing it was a hard job.

I see! I chose an expensive exterior paint and (so far) it washes quite well.

On my second coop I used film faced ply, but the marine grade film faced ply was special order and ridiculously expensive so I ended up using film faced exterior building grade ply and I still had issues with sealing the edges but washing it is easier. If I build a third coop I will build it like a house framed structure so that I can insulate it and then line it with the pvc panels so that I can just hose it down when it is a mess.

Good to know the pvc comes in panels.

I tried lining with stick on floor tiles, but they kept peeling off the walls.

With the chemicals and glues used for manufacturing plywood vs the chemicals in pvc I'm not sure what is better or worse.

Yeh, it's a tough call. It all comes down to doing whatever works for a specific context.

 

[Down Under]

When I need shavings, I have been buying the 'Superior' brand, which has also had the dust extracted from it. It comes in bigger batches which is nice because there's a big space to fill.

But I'm not convinced shavings are the best choice for the nest box here for a couple of reasons. The nest box has vents in the floor - it came that way - and the shavings would fall through the vents. Also, I doubt it would allow the hens to make a deep bowl, which is what they love to do if they're given half a chance.

I was using the Superior Shavings for bedding but I found a local mill that sells an identical product at half the price.

Yeah the shavings wouldn't work so well with a vented floor unless you could put a false floor in the nesting box. If you give them enough shavings they can build a deep bowl but unless your nesting boxes have a big lip on them the chooks would kick the shaving out pretty quick.

 

[BDutch]

MJ there is also this product: https://www.timberwood.com.au/products/versaboard.html as an alternative flooring material. It doesn't look like timberwood have a distribution centre in SA but one of the plywood suppliers around Adelaide might stock it or be able to order it in.

Edit: It looks like Burnie Timber in SA is listing versaboard as an outdoor kitchen product: https://burnietimber.com.au/products/alfresco-products/

Fresh PVC is poisonous. And its bad for the environment too.

How often do you change your nest box material? Seasonally? Weekly?

I change it every two weeks now. Weekly when it’s warm in summer (bc of a higher risk of getting red mites). And less often in winter.