Nesting box pad

[Kalileigh09]

I’m wanting to order nesting box pads bc the hens keep throwing the shavings out. I’m debating between the foam kind and the fake grass style. The foam seems easier to clean but thinner and like they may scratch it. The grass seems thicker and like it may last longer but I’m not sure about the chickens liking it. Anyone use either of these?

 

[Debbie292d]

We tried the yellow plastic fake grass ones. They made them sound easier to clean than they were. We ditched them and started using horse bedding pellets in the nest boxes. They already have them on the floor. That was a few years ago we switched. Keeps the coop clean and the pellets absorb any poop. I just take a stick and stir them once a week or so.

 

[Kalileigh09]

We tried the yellow plastic fake grass ones. They made them sound easier to clean than they were. We ditched them and started using horse bedding pellets in the nest boxes. They already have them on the floor. That was a few years ago we switched. Keeps the coop clean and the pellets absorb any poop. I just take a stick and stir them once a week or so.

Ok I was afraid of that with the grass. I’m not sure if they will throw the pellets out like the shavings but I’ll try them I already use them to dry the ducks run lol

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I might just have weird chickens, but mine hated the mats. The plastic grass ones got tossed out immediately by the chickens and every time I would put them back they managed to find a way to get them back out. The compostable ones with the paper bottom/dried grass like top they shredded into a big ball. I have just added a bigger edge to my boxes and stuck with the pellets. They seem to oddly enough prefer the harder surface for nesting.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A higher lip on the nests will help keep nesting material in.

 

[aart]

A higher lip on the nests will help keep nesting material in.

This^^^ is the first thing to examine.
Can you post pics of your nests?
Are your birds new to laying?

I would not use anything foam.

 

[GlicksChicks]

I use the nesting pads with the fake hay/straw. They can scratch it and form their nests however they'd like and the material is secured down to the bottom.

They can have some scratched out of the nest, but not much at all.