Please don't tell me to "do a search" because I have!

[Laurieks]

I use the goats' leftover alfalfa stems, plus a handful of fresh straw now and then.

Plus whatever else is on hand; rice hulls were great, one now has straw on top of sand/decomposed granite/DE that had been in a box for dust baths and was being ignored.
They kick it out when they feel like it, then they poop on it, then they get more. The sand mix has been left alone, although the cat keep eyeballing it.

If they make too big of a mess it has to sit outside and air out for a day or so. It's a 'duplex' box with a 3" lip from an old old farmer in Petaluma.
One hen insisted on using the top of the compost-I put a dog crate there with alfalfa 'leftovers' in it, and now they're all laying in it.

 

[the simple life]

I use shavings and I have used hay but during the day they kick most of it out and they are on bare wood which will crack and egg so I went with these and they work great.

http://www.eggcartons.com/category-exec/category_id/128/nm/Nest_Pads_and_Bedding

They look like straw, they are able to still pull at them a little and stretch out the pieces and get comfortable but they cannot tear it apart and it stays in the box.
They cost more money but they last a long time, I don't have cracked eggs and I don't have to keep replacing the shavings every day.
The hens took right to them, laid in them as soon as I put them in the boxes so it must not feel too weird for them.
I almost bought them a year ago but then decided to wait and not spend the money on them, I wish I had bought them back then now that I have them.

 

[19hhbelgian]

Quote:
Super glue is the best idea I've heard yet... That's to keep the girls in the boxes right?

My girls like when I make them a nest in the boxes. I did have one that would completely empty the box before she'd use it When I first got her, I stood there and put the hay in the box, she stood there and pushed it all out, I put it in, she threw it out, I put it in, she threw it out, I gave up, she laid her egg

She showed me! They know what they like, you just need to figure it out - easy enough right??

 

[Joyryder]

My hens love to pick at the hay, looking for seeds or bugs I guess. So they never left it in the boxes. I switch to shavings and problem solved. They did kick out the fake eggs.

 

[chixie]

2 of my hens lay their eggs in the ducks nest... they started laying in their nest box but have since quit.... I also have another hen who throws a fit until I add more hay to her nest box(if she doesnt think it has enough in it)... as soon as I put more hay she will get in there and lay her egg... she is a bossy booger... when she is upset I can hear her in my house..

 

[cap1717]

Hi Chris, my girls did the same thing, but they were definatly just "playing", not preparing to lay. What I do now is to put wood chips in the box with straw on top. The 2 that are laying are fine with that, the 2 that aren't are still playing and scattering. . . this too shall pass. . . .

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Quote:
I agree. I mean, even brainless birds need a hobby. Do a search then use super glue. Or try gravel.
(sorry, just kidding, everybody else is saying "do a search" and I couldn't resist!)

 

[newchicksnducks]

Quote:
ha,ha,ha...welcome to the world of chickens! My girls use shavings, but fluff them up and scatter them on their backs so much that the center of the box is bare by the time they lay an egg. This led to two "dented"/cracked eggs. Another BYCer suggested placing cardboard under the shavings to help cushion the egg. It works great! If/when it gets dirty, it will be easy to toss and replace. And it's free!

They'll move the shavings around, but never empty them almost bare...Your girls may be young, and straw is so much easier to toss about!

I had to chuckle with the suggestions to add fake eggs in the nests. Altho my nests were installed when the hens were 16 weeks, they never even checked them out till they were 21-26 weeks (mixed flock). This is what they did to my fake eggs....

 

[waterpossum]

take a picture of some straw and glue it down in the bottom of the nest box! they/ll think that there/s straw in there but can/t kick it out! lol i/m really just kiddin about the picture thing now. i just keep adding straw and keep adding straw. lot of times when they start laying they won/t kick it out so much. they want something soft under their tushies