Sand in the coop, what do you put in the nesting boxes?

[aggiemae]

I use stall dry (which I scoop every morning) on the coop floor and pine shavings in the nest. We never get poop in the nest boxes and haven't changed the nest bedding in over a year though I do add a handful or two to replace what the hens scratch out.

 

[MandalaMaMa]

Where do you get the rice hull?

I get it from my local feed store. They recommended it instead of wood shavings.

 

[Mehjr10]

I use pine shavings, easy to pick out any dirty spots and throw another handful in.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I use shavings in the nest boxes. If I have some chicks that are pooping in there every night I switch to sand in that nest box only, and scoop it in the morning (I can't close them off because I have hens that need them).

If the shavings get on the floor of the coop they come out with the kitty litter scoop eventually that I use to get the poo out.

 

[Gramma5]

I tried pine shavings. They threw it all out into the coop. Then I tried shredded paper. Same thing. I tried grass straw. One laid her egg in it, then the other hens went in and removed not only the grass, but the egg that was laid as well.

Finally went and bought a bale of straw. Now 4 out of 6 hens lay in there. However, they don't like alot of straw. They've dug it out to the level they prefer (not alot) and I leave it there.

At least it's not hard to pick out of the sand when they scatter some.

 

[grannyhowie]

I use sand in my coop and nesting boxes. I throw a handfull of dried leaves also into the nesting boxes and the girls seem to like it.

 

[dadschicks]

So my girls are now about 19 weeks and have access to the nesting boxes. Each night when I lock them into the coop I find one of them who is either on the edge of the nesting box or lying in it. There is always some poop in one of the nesting boxes that is lined with pine shavings. I usually scoot the offender back into the perch area, but still same problem I hate to lock them out of the nesting boxes at night in case they are getting close to laying. Do they usually lay at night or early in the AM or can it be any time of day.

 

[skitzkle]

So my girls are now about 19 weeks and have access to the nesting boxes. Each night when I lock them into the coop I find one of them who is either on the edge of the nesting box or lying in it. There is always some poop in one of the nesting boxes that is lined with pine shavings. I usually scoot the offender back into the perch area, but still same problem I hate to lock them out of the nesting boxes at night in case they are getting close to laying. Do they usually lay at night or early in the AM or can it be any time of day.

Mine have never laid in the early morning before I open the coop. I have accidentally scared them out of the nesting box during the day and they waited till I was out of the way and went back to lay in the box. Also their first eggs might not be in the box. My first egg was in the run, but they got it by the 2nd egg! Locking them out at night should be fine just open it back up early in the am.

 

[Phoenixxx]

I have a dirt floor, not sand. I used shavings in the very beginning but then noticed the chickens would scratch up all kinds of nice moss when in the yard! I've since only ever used the moss that they dig up themselves, which is good because pine and cedar shavings are actually toxic except in extremely well-ventilated conditions. Moss holds together well so if there's poop on it you can just roll it up or scoop a patch up and turf it. Best part is, it's FREE and the chickens do most of the work in collecting it!

 

[ShinShien]

I use pine shavings as a base then top it with hay *spillage from the horse hay*. The hens tend to add this-n-that as they enter...dead leaves, small sticks, 1 or more of the australorps is using her feathers as no one else has black feathers, except the rooster. I doubt he's building a nest, but I dunno.