Nest box materials

[polenslager]

What does everyone put in the nest boxes?
We have been using straw.
Which works okay.. but our hens, which have just started laying about a week ago,
scratch alot of the straw out.

I have noticed too that while there may be this nice "nest" they have
made in the box, the very bottom is bare if that makes any sense..

We have six chickens.. and five nest boxes.. they seem to favor two of the five boxes.
Is it normal for them to scratch alot out?

The boxes are about 10 inches deep. They are recycled old cabinet drawers.

So far we have gotten an egg almost every day. So Im assuming one or two of the
chickens are laying and the others are not yet.

Todays egg was huge compared to the first tiny ones.. it looked like a normal "store
bought" egg.. there was a tiny crack and hole in the end of the egg.. Im assuming it
was due to the nest box it was layed in, not having a nice cushion of straw were she
scratched some out.

 

[ChickyPooh]

she might have stepped on it. mine do the same thing but they get the boxes the way they want them and thats how they stay

 

[emandmikey]

I've been wondering about this too. I have some left over aspen bedding from my guinea pigs... could I use that in the nests? Or could I use it as bedding for chicks? I'm hoping to have some chicks in the next couple of months.