Straw or hay for nest boxes- preference?

[HilaryH-RI]

Hi Backyard Chicken forum friends,

I am a first time chicken owner finishing up my first coop. I wonder if I should get straw or hay to bed the nesting boxes for my 4 chickens. Which is preferred and why?

thank you for replying,
-Hilary

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

Straw is a better option. Hay is a feed and straw is bedding. It’s also cheaper. I use straw in mine.

Some may argue neither as they both tend to hold moisture but i have not had an issue!

 

[Chicka_deee]

I use wood shavings it’s cozy and nice and my chickens seen to like it, and it’s a little more clean... i think

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Hi Hilary - Welcome! I’m a recent chicken mom of 4 also. Mine are six weeks old.

 

[sourland]

I prefer grass hay when it can be obtained. It firms a nice bowl shaped nest, and has a pleasant odor.

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi Hilary.
I use chopped straw, with pine oil. Never use anything else, use it in their
nest boxes, and floors of coops. Smells lush. lol Good luck with your new family.

 

[Helloworld]

I use straw which gives me cleanest eggs, shorter pieces which they prefer to scratch in and breakdown on compost pile is much faster.

I noticed my chicks ate wood shavings so straw was next because hay sours and wood shaving can cause respiratory issues and I have had no issues with hay. I don’t like anything pine because snakes love it too.

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi, please let me put your minds at rest. lol Yes, i use chopped up straw, with pine oil.
But the reason i use it, is i live in UK so have no trouble with snakes here. lol Glad
Helloworld Songster has made a valued point on this, in case anyone who do live in
areas where there are snakes, then please do not use. I use it because it is lovely to
clean out, and when we put new in, it smells lush. Our girls love it, lol Guess, it is like us, when we change our beds.lol So sorry, i had to explain, why i used it, but also did not
mean to mislead anyone. But that is what is great being on BYC as it was noticed, so
a huge thanks to Helloworld Songster. Good point you mentioned.

 

[aart]

I like a nice, tight flake of straw...shove it in tight and 'bowl' it out a bit.
But I have space to store a bale of straw, I buy a fresh one every year after harvest.
When it starts to thin out, like here in pic, I toss the old stuff on the floor in coop or ground in run and shove a fresh flake in.

'Bale bag'...holding hay in pic, but works great for keeping it contained after cutting bale twine.

There will be as many opinions as keepers....use what is easy to get and store....try one and if you don't like it, try something else.

 

[TashaFrancois]

We use hemp bedding. It dries faster and absorbs the stink better. We only have to change once Avery 6 months. We just use a child’s rake to turn it every other day.