Nest box material

[Den in Penn]

My grandfather used straw in the chicken house and shavings in the brooder house for bedding. Don't know what what his reason for the shavings in the brooder house were, he grew the straw. And the straw can mat very well. it was a chore to clean the chickens pens. I use wood shavings in my coops for bedding, work in a wood shop can't beat the price. And my straw for the nests.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I haven't had that problem.

Oh, I'm just the opposite. I used to use shavings in the brooder but never liked them. They are difficult to dispose of (they don't decompose in the compost very fast and if you don't bury them in the pile, the wind just blows them away), and they weren't very absorbent. The poop would sit on top, they'd run through it and have poop and shavings caked on their feet in no time. So for awhile I switched to old towels and liked that a lot better. I could shake the dried poop off, and save up enough towels to do an animal only load so I didn't have to wash our clothes in the same load. I am currently brooding some chicks and this time I started them straight on straw and love it. After 10 days, I need to add a little more because they have it packed down but you practically can't see any poop on it at all. They've stayed clean and the feeder and waterer have also stayed clean.

HHmm I will have to remember that, I havent started using them yet, I just thought it might be easier with the babies. Ok so straw all the way.. Thanks

 

[Janay]

Can you use saw dust for nesting boxes? I have a bunch and it is dry. It is mostly bigger pieces, not dust.