New Coop and Nest box questions

[6chick*start]

Our coop should be finished this weekend, 8x8 wood barn type.
We will be trying the deep litter method.
Just pine shavings and the DE right ?
The nesting boxes will be added a little later. My 6 chicks are 3 weeks old.
I am picturing straw for the nest boxes.
Would a mixture of straw and pine shavings be best or just straw ... or is straw not good ?

We are brand new to the world of chickens and I don't know what took me so long.
I love my girls !

 

[macadam8157]

In the same boat with ya. Good questions!

 

[BackyardFarmMama]

I have the same questions... though my chicks aren't here yet (coming in mid-June) and I haven't even started building my coop yet

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've used both straw and pine shavings. Absolutely no difference. They have no preference. My only suggestion is to make the lip on your nest boxes high enough they have trouble scratching the nesting material out. I find that 5 to 6 inches of lip is about right. They will scratch and shape any material you put in there to get it just right. If the lip is not high enough, any material in there and any eggs in there can wind up on the coop floor.

 

[6chick*start]

Had not thought of that. Thank you Ridgerunner!

 

[macadam8157]

Thanks 6chick and Ridgerunner for the question and answer!

 

[Cowgirl75446]

Hi, I always just use pine shavings when they are that young.

 

[6chick*start]

Yes, I've decided to just go with shavings for now.
If I start with 4" of shavings covering 8x8', how much of the DE do I mix in?
At this point I'm not even sure what DE looks like or how it is packaged?
Off to look up Diatomaceous Earth ...
thanks