Nesting Box Material

[DeepFried]

So... the chickens are finally starting to pay rent (first egg yesterday). The problem I have is that they pull all of the nesting material out of the laying boxes (currently using pine shavings). Does anybody have a good idea how to keep it in (or a better material alternative). Would a foam/ rubber mat be a good replacement?

 

[AlienChick]

I usually switch my nesting material often.
I use pine shavings, grass clippings, straw, or hay.
My chickens don't seem to have issues with any of them.

They prefer soft nests, so make it thick with whatever bedding you use.
Smash it down in a middle corner to make a "nest."
Change it when it gets soiled.

 

[buttercup hill]

Congrats on that first egg! Woo Hoo!

Today I'll be refreshing my nest boxes. They sure like to get in there and shuffle around, don't they?

I have 8 nest boxes for my 15 hens and decided to test a variety of materials. Two have straw, two pine chips, two soft dried grass, two crunched up dry leaves. I've found that they have individual preferences so I'll be keeping with this variety. My boxes have a nice lip in the froint to help hold in most of the material.

A foam type material I'd be afraid they'd scratch little pieces off and maybe ingest some? Mine sure scratch around in there before settling down. Seems normal that they'd manage to scratch some material out of the box.

 

[DeepFried]

Congrats on that first egg! Woo Hoo!

Today I'll be refreshing my nest boxes. They sure like to get in there and shuffle around, don't they?

I have 8 nest boxes for my 15 hens and decided to test a variety of materials. Two have straw, two pine chips, two soft dried grass, two crunched up dry leaves. I've found that they have individual preferences so I'll be keeping with this variety. My boxes have a nice lip in the froint to help hold in most of the material.

A foam type material I'd be afraid they'd scratch little pieces off and maybe ingest some? Mine sure scratch around in there before settling down. Seems normal that they'd manage to scratch some material out of the box.

I agree that they will scratch some out from time to time, I expect that, jsut not ALL of it in 1 hour...high maintenance girls.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

My young pullets also pull most of the pine shavings out of the nest boxes. I think that they do it just to make a mess. I use straw currently with them and am trying to gradually introduce shavings into the boxes. They don't seem to scratch out the straw half as bad.