nests

[SueD]

Okay,

coops is ready, I have pine shavings for my floor. What should I use for the nests bottoms? more pine shavings? or should I use hay for those?

Thanks Everyone,
Sue

 

[mudhen]

I use straw, some people like hay because it smells better (?).
The only problem with straw is that because it is hollow it can provide a place for mites or parasites to live/grow.
I don't worry about it because I treat with DE every couple of weeks or so and don't have any problems.

 

[wendy]

hi we use hay, i put on gloves because to me it is scratchy
my husband is pretty particular, he got out there behind me and "crunched" it up real good to make it a little more softer. lol
The funny thing is one of our hens scoots all that hay out of the way and forms a mold around her when she lays that her egg is laying on the plastic bottom! So silly ( our nesting boxes are milk crates, we already had three and decided to try it out after we bought a book that said you can even use five gallon buckets with some cushing of your choice in the bottom)
Let us know what you went with. Do you have any pics up?