Nesting material

[Sengge]

Has anyone tried using dried leaves in the coop / nesting box instead of wood shavings, sawdust or straw / hay?

Pls let me know if it makes sense
Is it safe to assume that since some leaves are more acidic than others (e.g. oak) hence they prevent mite build up??

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Some people even use shredded paper...I would think leaves would be OK- haven't tried it myself though. I use sand currently.

 

[jetdog]

I use shavings but use to use nice soft green hay but they were pulling it all out and eating it so no more hay.

 

[farmchickutah]

I use a mixture of leaves and pine shavings. It has worked well. I use a little hay too when I clean up after my horses. They like the hay too.

 

[gander007]

I have been using straw for years but I still have some hens who
go out of their way to lay egg's in the sand..... The biggest decision
for where a chicken leaves her egg's is the chicken .......




gander007

 

[Sengge]

Great friends, leaves are good as agreed....will try to mow / shred them next time and store in dry place for the winter, why to waste them in trash bags when could be used for hens

 

[Hokum Coco]

Nest boxes
In my nest boxes I fold a feed bag to fit (nest boxes are 1 ft³). When a bag gets soiled; fold a new one; pop out the soiled; pop in the new..In the winter poop freezes and peals of the bags.

Easy Peasy

 

[DallasCriftins]

In the coop and run I use almost anything
Sand, Shavings Leaves, Dry garden shredding wood ash

I never use Hay in the coop but I do in the run
it goes mouldy far too quickly in closed spaces like a coop ditto for wet grass clippings

In the nest boxes I use chopped straw but I will soon be switching to astro turf
as shown here