Nesting Box bedding... straw or hay?

I use shavings or straw. Around here, hay is too valuable for the chickens to be pooping on it. On observation of the hens while they are in the nest box, they are in there to lay, not eat. so go with whatever cheapest. i like shavings b/c I can scoop out ust the soiled area, if there is poo or a broken egg, and then just top up with more shavings.

 

I use pine shavings in the nest boxes. It smells nice and it's easy to clean up if one the girls has an accident.

 

No doubt, the first two comments are totally accurate. Good luck with your ladies.

 

I like pine shavings, mine always pushed the straw over to the side and broke a bunch of eggs on the bare wood.

 

I think whatever you prefer is the best one for you. I've used shavings, hay, and grass clippings. All work well; it's just a personal choice.

 

I'm putting hay in mine because I can get medium quality hay bales for less than the cost of straw bales around here. I just raked up the loose hay around the stack of bales and put it in the chicken's boxes. They're eating some of it and pecking through it and having a great time. Just waiting for them to lay eggs in it...

 

I use hay because it's readily available here; cheap too. I buy a square bale for $3 - 3.50 and it lasts for months, changing out all my nestboxes once a week.

I rarely have a dirty nestbox. When it's time for the weekly clean out, I just pick up the whole wad of hay and toss it out the door of the coop. When the chickens get through scratching through what I throw out, the cows come and eat it all up.

Never had a problem with my hens eating it. They make nice cozy round nests out of it and get down to business.

 

I use grass clippings. WE save them and keep them dry.