Nesting boxes bedding material

[kbmtcastle]

My chickens pull everything out of their boxes. Hay or pine shavings. The never last. Haven't had any broken eggs but was wondering why they did this

 

[DaughterOfEve]

I have never seen this behavior before. Sorry.

 

[SteveBaz]

Well it depends on what is going on. Have they layed before? Is there a new something inside thats making them nervous? Maybe they do not like the area the nest is? Here is what mine looks like and they keep it pretty clean. I scoop up some chips but none to speak of.






HERE is Rockie laying first thing in the Afternoon

 

[kbmtcastle]

Thanks for the reply! We raised them from chicks and they were laying great in their straw beds. Then in the fall the just started pulling it out. I changed to pine shaving to see if they liked that better but nope.

 

[duckinnut]

Put a bigger front edge on the front of the boxes. I was having the same problem, went from a 2" in lip to a 6" case closed. Not to say that it will keep all of it in but a good percentage. When they kick around to form a nest some pine shaving comes out and they will physically remove some straw from adjoining boxes but for the most part no problem.

 

[Ole rooster]

Put a bigger front edge on the front of the boxes. I was having the same problem, went from a 2" in lip to a 6" case closed. Not to say that it will keep all of it in but a good percentage. When they kick around to form a nest some pine shaving comes out and they will physically remove some straw from adjoining boxes but for the most part no problem.

This is what I did. I put the front barrier higher and still use straw. I get a few straw out in the sand but over all it pretty much stays in place. But I don't put it deep. I think the deep stuff is a waste.

 

[duckinnut]

This is what I did. I put the front barrier higher and still use straw. I get a few straw out in the sand but over all it pretty much stays in place. But I don't put it deep. I think the deep stuff is a waste.

Agreed, I use about 2" of pine shavings and a handful or so of straw. That way they can make the "prototypical" nest. Like I said the only way the straw gets out of mine are the chickens moving from one box to the next or their feeble attempt to place it on their backs.

 

[vjbakke]

We use recycled shredded paper, We put 3-4 inches in the boxes, the girls flatten it down. We get 4-5 eggs in one box without any broken eggs.

 

[ChicKat]

x2 ducknut's suggestion. I think that if pine shavings aren't pretty deep they're prickley for the chickens and they will toss them out to be more comfortable. If the shavings are a couple of inches deep there is more 'give'.