Nesting Box ?

[lunkerchicken]

My little ladies should begin laying soon and I had a question about lining the nesting box floor. As of right now, my nesting boxes are boarded up so the girls don't use it to sleep in. I have a foam mat secured to the floor of each box but wanted to put something on top. I use pine shavings on the main coop floor and wanted to use something different. Any suggestions? Hay? Straw? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Opa]

I would eliminate the foam pad and only use the shavings. They will foul the nest and the foam will attract and hold the moisture and odors.

 

[2txmedics]

shavings...straw and hay get hot...and also they have tunnels like a reg. straw and they draw lice/mites in them...

 

[lunkerchicken]

Great info - thanks for the tips....

 

[kathyinmo]

I was thinking about buying those new nesting pads, I forget what they are made of, but they are washable and breathable. Have you seen those?

 

[fordmommy]

This is what I use with pine shavings. Easy to clean. I put old plastic trays on the top for the poop.

 

[Opa]

I use a gray plastic nest pad that looks like a the plastic grass door mats. I found the best price at www.Cutlersupply.com. It is very easy to clean. I just hit it against the side of something and the droppings fall off. Occasionally I wash them. It is made so that all of the "grass" ends point in on direction and since I use rollout nest boxes it aids in the eggs leaving the nest box.