nest pads

[Chad Nolen]

does anyone use nest pads instead of shavings or straw in the nest boxes? I have nest pads where I work and just figured I could use them instead of shavings?

Also in my quaker style coop I have 8 nest boxes for 11 birds. If I remove 3 dividers to give more room in the coop will they continue to keep laying where there was a nest box or will she move into 1 of the nest boxes that are left. Only 2 hens let there eggs in 4 of the boxes so I'm just going to remove the divider.

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

most hens like to share. my four lay in one box. I removed two boxes because they simply didn't use them. As for the pad my neighbor uses them, I just prefer shavings.

 

[Molpet]

my rowdy bunch scratched the pads into a ball..
I took 1 divider out of a 3 nest box and some use it.. some like a dog house as a communal nest box, 4 nests in there yesterday, but all the eggs were moved into one LOL... some like individual boxes, and line up waiting even though 3 just like it are available... just depends on individual birds.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Chad,

I have used, pine shavings, excelsior pads, plastic bristle type pads, and artificial turf pads.

My hens like the shavings, but they are just so tedious to clean out.
They also liked the excelsior pads, but destroyed them after a couple of weeks.
The plastic bristle type...did not go over well. They went on strike!
So, one day I came across these artificial turf pads. A bit pricey!

I ended up buying an artificial grass rug at Home Depot. I cut it into pads for 6 nesting boxes, 4 pads for the dog and 3 cats, 1 for the hospital cage and one extra large rug left over for the patio!

Oh, and the girls love them! I do too, they are easy to clean with some soapy water. They dry in an hour and everybody is happy. LOL!

 

[leenaree]

I was glad to see your post about artificial grass. I found a place in Western Washington selling remnants and used turf. Have you tried putting them in a washing machine?

 

[Cindy in PA]

I was glad to see your post about artificial grass. I found a place in Western Washington selling remnants and used turf. Have you tried putting them in a washing machine?

I used turf pads for a short time. Having a broody sit on them in the summer changed my mind. They stink, LOL! My girls love the excelsior pads & I only have to change them every 4-6 months.

 

[leenaree]

What are the excelsior pads? Are these disposables?

 

[Molpet]

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1298255-happy-hen-treats-15-count-nesting-pads.html
Mine tore them up

 

[leenaree]

Has anyone tried coffee sack burlap as a nest box padding?