Straw? Shavings? Chips? Help!

[arpyhh]

My girls arrive in a few days! (I AM SO EXCITED!)
I am getting their coop ready and have just finished the nesting boxes. So how do I line them? I read pine shaving under a bed of straw, and then I read, wood chips, then I read oat straw! YIKES!
What will they like? Will they care?
Any advice would be appreciated

 

[krcote]

I've used it all from straw, to shredded paper, pine needles, dry leaves, shavings... mine seem to like it all! The only thing I wouldnt use again is the shredded paper because it stuck like glue to the fresh laid eggs. All other things I've used brushes right off. Good luck, have fun!

 

[arpyhh]

Thanks!

 

[mickey328]

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason to what they like or don't. We use straw as bedding simply because it's more cost effective for us. When it comes to their boxes, some get in and immediately scratch all of it out, and some get in and meticulously pick up pieces to put in it...they're constantly re-arranging, LOL We lined them with a piece of plastic "welcome mat" that has bristles on it. That way even if they scratch ALL the straw out, there's some padding and support for the egg.

Oh, and welcome to BYC!!

 

[arpyhh]

Hey that's a good idea about the mat!
Thank you!

I see the best ideas on this site! I love it. It literally has changed my life, since getting my husband to read it is what got him to agree to letting me have chickens at last!

 

[mickey328]

That's another of those great ideas I found right here on BYC. There is such a wealth of info and experience here, it's awesome!

 

[Kansaseq]

I'm a fan of pine shavings. They are easily obtainable, easy to clean, fairly cheap, and just look nice.

 

[fishnet1971]

I've used it all from straw, to shredded paper, pine needles, dry leaves, shavings... mine seem to like it all! The only thing I wouldnt use again is the shredded paper because it stuck like glue to the fresh laid eggs. All other things I've used brushes right off. Good luck, have fun!

Yup, done the shreded paper as well. It's the hardest thing to get off the egg once it dries. I quit that one quickly.

I use pine shavings. They smell nice when they are fresh and I use a scopable cat littler scoop to just scoop the poop daily! it's so easy to keep clean.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

I have sand in one house. Sand under the roosts makes for super easy clean up. I even put sand in their nest boxes which they didn't seem to mind one bit. The sand sticks to the eggs a bit but brushes right off. Super easy to keep clean with a kitty litter scoop. And mix in some DE to keep the bed bugs at bay.

 

[arpyhh]

Oh thanks for all the advice!
That reminds me, about the DE.
What kind? I mean what type? Aren't there different kinds?