Suggestions for nesting material

[alc245]

Hi everyone! We use sand as the bedding in the coop, so far has worked great and easy to clean! Our chicks are 15 weeks old, we have two white leghorns that we heard will lay at 5 months. What type of bedding should we use for the nesting boxes? Pine shavings maybe? Should we put a golf ball in there to as a suggestion?

 

[sourland]

Pine shavings or straw are used by many. I like to use grass hay because of it's pleasant smell. Golf balls or fake eggs can be used to suggest that 'this is the place'.

 

[alc245]

Thank you!

 

[BackyardFlock17]

I use straw in my nesting boxes. The laying hens seem to like it. Like sourland said, fake eggs can teach the hens where to lay.

 

[alc245]

Thank you!

 

[aart]

I like to peel off a nice thick 'flake' of straw off the bale.....
....cram into nest( my nests are 14 x 14 on the bottom with a 4' lip under entrance)....
..pat down edges and 'bowl out' the center.

Harder for them to scratch thru to the bottom of nest.

Fake eggs and/or golf balls in all but one nest(I had one pullet that did not like the fake eggs at first) definitely help show the where.
Now that doesn't mean the first eggs might not end up all over the place at first....lol....
Can take up to a month or so for them to figure it all out.
Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

 

[alc245]

Thank you! Great idea!