Stuff to Put Inside Nesting Boxes? They Keep Pushing the Bedding Out :(

[Windy Wings]

Hi! We've been having a rather annoying issue with our girls. I keep putting wood shavings inside the coop and nesting boxes, and they keep moving the wood shavings out of the nesting boxes so they are bare. Is there something else I should be using in the nesting boxes? At this point I'm not really sure what to do because I keep putting more wood shavings in there, and they keep kicking them out.
Thanks!

 

[StinkyAcres]

Do your nesting boxes have a lip at the front? I prefer hay in my nesting boxes arranged in a circle like a bird's nest. It's not as easily kicked out and provides a soft landing area for the eggs.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

Hi! We've been having a rather annoying issue with our girls. I keep putting wood shavings inside the coop and nesting boxes, and they keep moving the wood shavings out of the nesting boxes so they are bare. Is there something else I should be using in the nesting boxes? At this point I'm not really sure what to do because I keep putting more wood shavings in there, and they keep kicking them out.
Thanks!

Try switching to dry grass cuttings or chopped straw, BTW how deep is your nesting box?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I use hemp. It looks expensive, but each spread in the nest boxes lasts for a month. Or more . It stays clean and fluffy, very nestable.

One of them (I’m looking at YOU, Tessa!) rolls out one of the two fake eggs, but no one kicks out the hemp.

https://eatonpetandpasture.com/prod...-YATz9KAOx5XFYfoN3dOLdMIpgkxzRsenCRMjWn9FByJI

Edit to add: I’m still on my first $25 bag, and we’ve had layers for nearly 10 months.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I had some particularly naughty hens in this regard. Even with a lip on the nesting box they would throw it all out and eggs would end up getting cracked. I ended up putting rubber mats in there that are normally used in garages. They were thick but had holes and were easy to rinse off.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Taller lip would help.

I pad my nest boxes with old feed bags with a couple sheets of bubble wrap inside, folded up to fit snugly. They're free and can readily be tossed if soiled, and even if the birds scratch out all the nesting materials the bag on the bottom still provides quite a bit of padding.

 

[Perris]

They are trying to create a nest as they would in the wild, scratching out a depression in the ground into which to lay their eggs. If you cut a turf from the garden and insert it inverted into the empty nestbox, they'll create the nesting crater of their dreams for themselves. And for free.

 

[Debbie292d]

We have silkies, some of whom like to sleep in the nest boxes.

In order to not have poopy eggs, we put horse bedding pellets in there. Then, when they poop in there, the pellets dry it out, and the eggs stay cleaner. They don't kick any of them out and do make a nest in them.

For maintenance, I just take a stick and stir the pellets once a week or so. We completely change them out every few months.