Straw or hay for nest boxes- preference?

[Mimi13]

I like and use the nest pads that be bought just about anywhere, including Home Depot (go figure).
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CAVMIK2/?tag=backy-20

Underneath these pads I do have the plastic tray liners to protect the wood from a major egg breakage disaster. However, these aren’t really needed.

 

[CleverCluck]

ok i am confused, i am using wheat straw in my coop and the surrounding pen, but i read you are supposed to clean it out daily, and i have been going through a s... load of straw! none of my chickens are old enough to start laying yet and wont go near their nesting boxes, as a matter of fact, they wont even go up in the coop at night, they want to roost outside the coop, but they are still in a pen, is this ok? and somebody explain to me how often to actually change out the straw?

 

[bnd111107]

We use straw. I’ve tried shavings before but mine always kick them out.

 

[dannygirl1]

I use wood shavings in my nest boxes which are cat litter boxes, chickens can’t kick them out, and they only need replacing every 6 weeks unless weather gets very wet

 

[imnukensc]

I use pine straw and leaves raked up out of the yard. Some pine shavings get mixed in from the coop.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

ok i am confused, i am using wheat straw in my coop and the surrounding pen, but i read you are supposed to clean it out daily, and i have been going through a s... load of straw! none of my chickens are old enough to start laying yet and wont go near their nesting boxes, as a matter of fact, they wont even go up in the coop at night, they want to roost outside the coop, but they are still in a pen, is this ok? and somebody explain to me how often to actually change out the straw?

There are lots of “it depends” answers to this. How many chickens, how many square feet, how much time they spend inside versus out free-ranging, if any. And how deep you keep the straw. I’m an amateur so I won’t try to answer. But you can read up on “deep litter method” (DLM) and other threads about bedding for the coop and litter for the run.

Many people just remove the poops daily and change the bedding or litter rarely. Read up on “poop boards” too. There’s a wealth of information on here!

 

[Mimi13]

There are lots of “it depends” answers to this. How many chickens, how many square feet, how much time they spend inside versus out free-ranging, if any. And how deep you keep the straw. I’m an amateur so I won’t try to answer. But you can read up on “deep litter method” (DLM) and other threads about bedding for the coop and litter for the run.

Many people just remove the poops daily and change the bedding or litter rarely. Read up on “poop boards” too. There’s a wealth of information on here!

Don’t sell yourself short on being an “amateur.” Your answer was straightforward, very informative, and as good as any “expert’s.”

 

[50-45-1]

I use straw with some of my chopped wormwood plant sprinkled in (its a natural bug repellent and smells like eucaliptus)
Hay is feed and may have tasty seeds or leaves and might encourage chickens scratching through it to find that. Resulting in bedding scratched out and broken eggs.
]

 

[getaclue]

As a general rule of thumb, straw is hollow, hay is not. In humid climates, straw can harbor molds/fungi more easily. Straw can also harbor mites more easily, if you ever have a breakout of them. For those reasons, I prefer a good hay. It smells good too.

 

[Kasilofchrisn]

Hay and straw or not cheap where I live.
I use pine shavings in my coupe and my nest boxes.
Volume wise it's cheaper than hay or straw and it works great.
The stuff I use is not a real small flake and I've never had a problem with chickens eating the shavings.