So what do I put in the nest boxes?

[GrizFan]

The boss says we're using wood shavings in the bottom of the coop. What do we put in the nest boxes? Wood shavings? Sand? Flannel sheets?

Thanks

 

[weaselslucks]

Shavings would work or hay. Around here you can get a bale for 4.99 just make sure it does not get wet

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Flannel sheets - that's good

I just use the shavings in my nest boxes as well.

 

[Fred's Hens]

For reasons I cannot explain, the hens drag, scratch, or kick the straw out of the boxes, but leave the chips alone.

 

[OkChickens]

I use hay in the nest boxes for my Chickens and Turkeys. I put a little layer of pine shavings on the bottom to keep the eggs off the metal. Works great for me!

Nate

 

[L.L Farm]

We use shaving. The hens tend to scratch around and kick them all out, so we screwed in a piece of wood in form of the nest box which stops most of them from falling out

 

[krcote]

I use shavings and dry pine needles.

 

[mydog8it]

Quote:
Holy cow. Hay is $15.75 a bale here!

I used to use shavings in the nest boxes, but mine were always kicking them out, too. I started using straw and it's working really well. It holds a nice "nest" shape and doesn't stick to the eggs.

 

[ChicKat]

L.L Farm :

We use shaving. The hens tend to scratch around and kick them all out, so we screwed in a piece of wood in form of the nest box which stops most of them from falling out

Thank you for this post..... My hen uses wood shavings happily. 2-days ago one of my pullets laid her first egg---and threw all the shavings out of the box. I see now that it is just a chicken preference....and she didn't like them. (I had thought that maybe she was psychotic or some such).

Has anyone used paper shredded in the shredders so many folks have now-a-days? Would it give paper cuts to chicken's feet. any thoughts? Thanks.​

 

[Want Less]

We started off using hay (left from the horses) but the hens picked at it too much and kept kicking a lot of it out of the nest boxes just loike others have mentioned. We switched to shavings and not only do they leave them alone, but the nest boxes are also much easier to "spot clean" than with hay.