Nesting box bedding

[hope524]

What do you suggest for bedding in a nesting box? Hay, straw or shavings? Or something else. I'm trying to figure out which one to set in the nesting boxes that will be comfortable for my hens. Thanks for your help.

 

[sourland]

I guess it's whatever works best for you. I've always preferred a nice grass hay (not always easy to get) - it's soft and has a really pleasant smell.

 

[krista74]

I guess it's whatever works best for you. I've always preferred a nice grass hay (not always easy to get) - it's soft and has a really pleasant smell.

Me too. We have always used plain old hay on the coop floor, but we buy the more expensive grass hay for the nests. Straw is way too prickly on their little fuzzy butts in my opinion!

Shavings, I believe, are comfy and many people use them. I would too but we are unable to source any where we are.

I guess it comes down to what you can lay your hands on and how much you can afford to pay. Generally straw will be the cheapest around our area, but like I said, the hens are reluctant to settle down in it. Fussy fuzzy's!

- Krista

 

[silkymom]

i use shaveings on bottom, in summer i rake up grass clippings after their dry, they smell good, in winter i still use the pine but use straw i make into kinda a bowl for them they seem to like it,

 

[aart]

I use straw, shuffling/flattening it a bit so no ends stick up.
It makes a nice 'bowl' that stays in place, less likely to get scratched thru to the the hard bottom of the nest.

 

[RonP]

I guess it's whatever works best for you.

I use pine shavings on the coop floor, 8-12 inches deep.

I use shredded junk mail in the nesting boxes, often changing it out as I get so much...

 

[shorttimer]

I don't have access to grass. I was really hoping for other answers to hay & straw. My girls eat it and end up with sour crop and killed one of them. I have been very sad over that for more than a year. I'm still looking for a good substitute for hay cause another one of my girls has come down with sour crop again. Over the years it's been a challenge to rid sour crop from them & have tried many things. That's another subject, though. I've racked my brain trying to think of something they won't eat, that ends up rolling into a ball inside their crop, and yet is natural. Maybe I should stop that way of thinking and use anything that they won't want to consume.

 

[aart]

I don't have access to grass. I was really hoping for other answers to hay & straw. My girls eat it and end up with sour crop and killed one of them. I have been very sad over that for more than a year. I'm still looking for a good substitute for hay cause another one of my girls has come down with sour crop again. Over the years it's been a challenge to rid sour crop from them & have tried many things. That's another subject, though. I've racked my brain trying to think of something they won't eat, that ends up rolling into a ball inside their crop, and yet is natural. Maybe I should stop that way of thinking and use anything that they won't want to consume.

What do you use for bedding on the floor of your coop?
Use that in the nests too.