Survey: Pine Shavings, Hay, or Straw in Nest Boxes (Cold Weather Climate) ?

[emcd124]

So this might be a little quirky, but we just started getting those once-a-week meal delivery services from Green Chef, and they use shredded and matted burlap as their insulator -- and it makes a crazy perfect surface for nesting boxes, just like the fancy pads you can buy that are specially designed for nesting boxes. We just cut it to size, and every weeks shipment has enough matted burlap to fill like six nesting boxes.

So sort of a fun freebie if you were thinking of one of the meal delivery services anyway

 

[olepackrat]

I really like this idea!

 

[olepackrat]

Now this is a novel idea! I always think it's such a waste of paper when I have to throw the junk mail away!

 

[olepackrat]

Thanks for the resoures, aart! The video was great!

 

[olepackrat]

Another great idea! Though I doubt I'll be getting meal delivery services lol! Just goes to show that keeping an eye out for anything that can be used with chickens can pay off!

 

[JenniferCNY]

I use nesting pads that I got from amazon. They've been in use for about 6 weeks and the one nest (out of 6) that they actually use is still in great shape. As are all the others, of course, since they only get explored but not laid in.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

We used sweet Timothy hay. I buy it at Meijer packaged for small animals, it's already cut to a perfect size for the nesting boxes.

 

[Folly's place]

I use folded feed bags on the bottom, then shavings and hay or straw. The boxes get cleaned out whenever they get messed up, and then during 3x per year coop cleaning. My nest boxes are plastic egg crates on a shelf next to each other, with a 4" board in front to keep the bedding in, and a slanted solid top. Mary

 

[olepackrat]

I use nesting pads that I got from amazon. They've been in use for about 6 weeks and the one nest (out of 6) that they actually use is still in great shape. As are all the others, of course, since they only get explored but not laid in.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[olepackrat]

We used sweet Timothy hay. I buy it at Meijer packaged for small animals, it's already cut to a perfect size for the nesting boxes.

This good to know, since Meijer's isn't too far from me. Thanks! How many boxes does a 28 oz bag fill for yours? How often do you need to change it?