So I changed the nesting boxes to straw and they are making a mess!!!!

Shavings? If you have them, use them.

 

I use straw and don't have the mess you discribe. One thing I did that I don't know if it mattered is to put the straw in the nest in a circlular pattern. Sorta like the swirl look of a hurricane from those weather planes. That way I figured the shaping of the nest I'd take away from them. For me it seems to have worked. I've not had one that I know of to scratch in the nest. I put the nest egg in the middle and they just walk in, plop down and do their thing. Other than that I don't know what to say. I am going to put a thick piece of cardboard on the bottom for the winter cold. I think that would help some. My nest boxes are outside the coop so the bottoms are exposed. I may just insulate the bottom.


Good luck.

 

Hmmm...I have straw in mine and while they pulled some out when I first filled the boxes with it, they leave it be now and just nest in it.

 

Put some carpet scraps on the bottom.

They will dig out a nest no matter what you use

 

I use shavings, too and they do push the shavings around trying to make a bowl-shape nest.

They don't seem to mind the hard bottom, BUT if you're noticing eggs being broken, you may want to pad the bottom of the box.

You can throw in some lawn clippings on the bottom and push the shavings on top and around to give it that bowl-shape if you want.

 

I use either as either work equally well, but the nesting box needs to have a good 3" lip on the front to help hold the bedding in. And yes, many hens kick out the bedding, no matter what it is.

 

I posted this video of my Icelandic hens on my blog yesterday. It might help to see what they do when you aren't looking.

 

I had the same problem you are describing. The girls would kick out just about all their shavings onto the floor. A BYCer ( can't remember who) had suggested excelsior nest pads from eggcartons.com

http://www.eggcartons.com/13-x-13-Excelsior-Nesting-Pads/productinfo/EP1313/

I decided to give it a try and it was the best decision I made. The floor is not full of shavings anymore. I put them in on October 7th and they are still intact after 5 weeks.

The floor one week after the nesting pads were placed.


Top row of nesting boxes


Close up of nesting pad.