Timothy Hay in the Nest Boxes?

[vlflower]

Is it okay to use Timothy Hay in the nesting boxes? I was planning on getting straw this week when I make my feed and bedding run anyway, but after letting the girls out this morning, I discovered a nest they made in the hay bales that I put outside their coop for the winter!

I'm sure they just did this yesterday and I already rearranged and blocked it off....boy are they ticked!

I have some Timothy Hay from the rabbit we had so I was just curious if I could get away with using that in the mean time since they seem to really like hay!

Thanks a bunch.

Vicki

 

[CMV]

I used to use hay in the nesting boxes and never had a problem with it. I only stopped using it because I use shavings everywhere else, so I just use those in the boxes now.

Good luck.

 

[clairabean]

The girls will LOVE destroying it!

 

[OregonChickenGal]

I use pine shavings in the coop and nesting boxes. They are much better in my opinion.

 

[vlflower]

Thanks! I'm sure they will love "destroying" it! They kick out everything I've put in there already. And they don't seem to mind laying their eggs in an empty box!

Gonna go add the hay now and see if the attitudes have gotten better!

 

[gibbysgirls253]

I like the smell of the cedar shavings better, but I have been told that it isn't good for chickens. I have been using the pine so far and was curious to know some thoughts on this.

 

[moodlymoo]

I put hay in and they take it right back out so I switched to pine since I use it in the coop too. One less thing to bring home from the feed store.

 

[Cattitude]

When I first put hay in the Sebright cage, they lay in it and rolled around like they were dustbathing! They will even eat a little of it.

 

[Farm_Maven]

Mine seem to prefer hay.

 

[McKenley5]

Mine kept throwing the shavings out of their nesting box, so I switched to straw...same thing...so now I use hay. They have a nice little nest made out of the hay and they don't throw it out. I figure it is because the hay is softer on their little bottoms??