Nest box pad suggestions?

[eikome]

Does anyone have a suggestion for a nest box pad for hens that eat everything and dig to the hard bottom of the box every time they lay?

I've tried astroturf (they ate it), I've tried the natural shredded wood pads (they ate it and pulled it out), I've tried regular pine shavings (they kick it all out), I've tried cardboard (they ate it), I've tried the spikey shoe-mat-like plastic nest pads (they are not fans and choose to lay on the floor or the middle of the run instead). What else can I try? I hate seeing cracked eggs!

 

[nuthatched]

maybe air filters for home systems cut down ? sand?

 

[rosemarythyme]

They're eating the padding? That's a new one...

Have you tried a folded feed bag? Sand is a good suggestion... I'd hope they wouldn't want to eat that too!

 

[aart]

Are these newly laying birds?
Common for them to 'over-prepare' the nest bedding.
I use a tight flake of straw, packed tight into nest and then 'bowled' out a bit.

What else have you tried for bedding and please show your nests.
Deeper nests with 3-5" lip on the front will help keep the bedding in the nest.

 

[eikome]

Are these newly laying birds?
Common for them to 'over-prepare' the nest bedding.
I use a tight flake of straw, packed tight into nest and then 'bowled' out a bit.

What else have you tried for bedding and please show your nests.
Deeper nests with 3-5" lip on the front will help keep the bedding in the nest.

3 are new layers (started in January), and 3 are going on 2 years old. One young one is most definitely an "over-preparer", but they all seem to eat & play with the nest pads. I don't have a pic handy, but the nest boxes are 14" cubes that have a 3" lip on the front.

They have pine shavings in their coop, and sand in the run. They don't eat it. They only eat what's in the nest boxes. I tried some chopped alfalfa hay on top of upside down plastic shoemat things in the nest box yesterday, but it's down to the bare plastic now and they've somehow kicked out 2 eggs today. A tight flake of straw might work better. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[eikome]

They're eating the padding? That's a new one...

Have you tried a folded feed bag? Sand is a good suggestion... I'd hope they wouldn't want to eat that too!

Yep. They're weirdos. They've eaten feedbags too. Once I used one on the outside of their run as a temporary tarp while I was fixing something. They pulled it through the 1/2" hardware cloth fence and ate it.

They get plenty of healthy feed and goodies and daily free range time. No idea why they pick at everything!

 

[eikome]

maybe air filters for home systems cut down ? sand?

Sand is a good idea. Maybe if I use it in combination with the plastic shoemat thing they won't be able to scratch down to the hard wood.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well I hope sand works then, seems the safest of the options you haven't tried yet. Your chickens really are weirdos!

 

[tlatham72]

Did you find a solution? I'm building my first coop now. Planning to use astroturf for the nest boxes, but definitely don't want them to eat it.

 

[BrukeyBrooke]

Any update? Mine haven’t started laying yet (I think because it is so hot in AZ) but have made a mockery of everything I have tried so far and like yours would probably eat alternatives! I’m considering sand as well, so I’m hopeful you can say if that has worked.