So what do I put in the nest boxes?

[weaselslucks]

I am talking about the bales that are about 3 or 4 ft long. i had a fit because i had to pay $8 once

 

[Rockportcrpntr]

I tried hay i tried pine shavings and then I noticed an astro turf doormat kicking around and I cut up a few nest box sized squares and put them in the nest boxes. When it gets dirty I bang it up against a handy tree and stick it back in the box. I've been using the same one for a year and a half now, and I think it could go another year or two. Big plus it's easy to clean and keeps the eggs clean. I even put a little DE on it every other week so when they scratch around it keeps the mites out.

 

[johny]

I thought hay would be nice but they just pulled it out and ate it.
Wood chips last a long time. When it gets a bit dirty just replace them with clean ones.

I can't beleive the price some of you are paying for hay. For $30 Canadian, I can get a 4 foot diameter large round bale. I only have 6 hens. I bale that large would decomposed before I could use it all. I throw some hay into the run every week just to cover the sand and give them somethiiing to kick around as they dig for scratch grain. It sems to disappear so I figure they must be eating it. I have never needed to clean out old hay.

 

[bryan99705]

Well, you steal your wife's feather pillow, cut open the end so you don't spill any feathers, gently grab a handful of feathers and .....

I'll finish the thought when I get out of the hospital

 

[darkmatter]

I use what I got around the place---------raked up pine needles, lawnmower baggings-dried, fresh Juniper greens pulled off the trees. Just about anything that's organic, soft, and adsorbent. Why buy stuff that nature provides free, try something, anything. If it don’t work, try something else.

 

[wwalding]

Quote:
I don't think they will eat it if they r laying.. just wait til then and see. They normally don't hang. Out in nest boxes. When they r adults. They just go in to do there buisness.;-)

 

[surfchicken72]

we put a thin layer of shavings and then a healthy layer of hay on top. The ladies seem to like the hay in there as they move it around building a nice nest to lay in.
They WILL however kick it out, so we have a simple 1X3 across the bottom of the openings of the nestboxes which
stops the hay from being picked or kicked out.
I rounded the corners off nice and smooth on the 1X3 so it's not sharp on their feet.

 

[mydog8it]

Quote:
I'm actually thinking about planting some in the fall. I don't think it will grow here in Phoenix the summer. The chickens would probably have a hayday (pun intended) eating it right out of the ground, and I think the goats could probably eat it fresh, too. The trick will be keeping the wild jackrabbits from eating it all first.

Sorry to hijack your thread, LadyGriz. I'm still using straw in my nest boxes

That's only $6 a bale here.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I would suggest using flannel sheets. It may work better.

I have used hay and shredded paper. They always kick the hay out and onto the floor of the chicken house. They use the shredded paper to have a High School pep rally. There's just no football team and cheerleaders on site. I'm at my wits ends trying to figure out what to use. Anything that costs more than hay is out of the question. A bale of hay is only $3.00.

 

[Tanichca]

I'd say to put a chicken in the nest box...

ok, i'd use pine shavings if the box has a front so they arent kicked out, but if not use hay.