Nesting Material?

[roostercluck]

Is it better to use pine shavings or can hay be used for nesting marterial in the nesting boxes?

 

[sandmbaker]

I use cedar bedding in mine. it absorbs the smell alot better then straw. I used straw before but it always seemed to get moldy very fast. I switched to cedar and have been using it for months now. and its cheaper.

 

[roostercluck]

How fast did the straw mold? How often do you have to replace it?

 

[Vicky2479]

I use straw or hay, so long as it is not getting wet or pooped in then I have found it lasts for ages

 

[sandmbaker]

my hens poop alot during the night in their house so I had to change the straw every couple days or it would smell and get moldy.. but now I only have to change the bedding once a week, I never smell their poop like I did with straw. but everyone has their own way of doing things. I had a farmer tell me once to put a layer of sand on the bottom of the coop so that it acts like cat litter and clumps so it can be scooped out but I have yet to try that.

 

[Vicky2479]

I agree with sandmbaker, if it's bedding for the coop then go wood shavings, that is what I have too and it really makes cleaning easy but in the nest boxes I use the hay, and I only change it if they have made a mess of it, it lasts for ages.

 

[wastintime202]

I use shavings under the roost..so much easier to clean up..and hay in the nest boxes..My hens sleep on the roost so the nest boxes stay clean forever.

 

[sandmbaker]

I cant get my hens to lay in their nest box anymore. They used to all the time but now they lay where they sleep and they don't lay at night they lay in the mornings around 10 or so. I tried the dummy eggs and they dont even pay attention to it they still go in their spot.

 

[karlamaria]

I use shavings for both nesting and floor of my coop. also add shavings on my poop boards. i like how clean it looks and smells.

 

[foulplay]

I use canola straw for my nest boxes and it works very well. I don't have to change it I just add more straw to the nest boxes.