Newbie Introduction and question..... Can I line my nesting boxes with astro-turf + pine shavings?

[samandemsmommy]

Married- live in NC foothills- two kiddos, two doggies and we are picking up our chicks (6 total- 2 EE, 2 Dom, 2 Buffs) this week, so I know they will be in their brooder box inside for a bit- but I want to get my coop prepared! I am using milk crates that I am attaching to the wall for the nesting boxes- 3 of them (6 chicks). Can I line the bottom of the crate with astro turf and then a layer of pine shavings? I thought I had read somewhere that astro turf was not good because of something with lead content? I could have totally made that up- but that is why I am asking ya'll! Thanks for your help!

 

[Farmer Viola]

Married- live in NC foothills- two kiddos, two doggies and we are picking up our chicks (6 total- 2 EE, 2 Dom, 2 Buffs) this week, so I know they will be in their brooder box inside for a bit- but I want to get my coop prepared! I am using milk crates that I am attaching to the wall for the nesting boxes- 3 of them (6 chicks). Can I line the bottom of the crate with astro turf and then a layer of pine shavings? I thought I had read somewhere that astro turf was not good because of something with lead content? I could have totally made that up- but that is why I am asking ya'll! Thanks for your help!

3 boxes is probably a bit much for 6 hens, they will probably all have 1 favorite box that they like to share. maybe 2 boxes for high traffic times of day. just my experience with that I would also not add the nesting boxes until they are close to laying age, otherwise they may learn to sleep in the boxes when young. you want to train them to sleep on the roosts, breaking the nestbox sleeping habit can be hard.

astro turf is fake grass basically? I would be worried about them eating it. I have never heard of anyone using astro turf for poultry, and I am not sure about any toxicity, but I would definitely be concerned that they would eat it and it's an unnatural product. I have used pine shavings and straw in nest boxes, I find I like the straw better but they both have their advantages. I would just use the pine shavings and not the astro turf, I think. maybe someone else can say more about the turf

 

[Farmer Viola]

I googled "astro turf safety" and found this article. sounds way too risky to use anywhere near my poultry:
http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/turf-wars-pros-and-cons-of-artificial-turf

 

[samandemsmommy]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Folly's place]

I also use plastic egg crates, and use feed bags as a base, with straw, hay, or shavings on top. I'm planning to try plastic carpet runner as base, but haven't done it yet. Mary

 

[Cacique500]

I thought I'd be ahead of the curve and put "astro turf" in our nest boxes. Problem was, they ate most of it. I was worried more about the long strings they were pulling on than them eating the plastic.

No ill effects, but I took it all out and went back to regular ole pine shavings.