Topic of the Week - Nest boxes

[Mraya]

Can dried grass clippings be used for nesting material? My hens haven't started laying yet but I have a lot of grass that I cut and when it is dried it is nice and soft.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Something I think a lot of folks miss, but I found to be very important in the past: paint the interiors of your nest boxes a DARK color. I like gloss exterior paints for easier cleaning, but it needs to be a dark color to make the hens feel they are in a hidden safe nest area.

 

[aart]

Can dried grass clippings be used for nesting material? My hens haven't started laying yet but I have a lot of grass that I cut and when it is dried it is nice and soft.

If it's good and dry, it should be fine...
...fresh green grass clippings often mold and they can cause impacted crops.

 

[DuckPro]

Mine lay their eggs all over the yard and then do a massive poop on the eggs!

I tried encouraging them with the boxes but these are wild hens!

 

[RowanTheRed]

On the topic of nest box bedding, which my hens tell me I fail miserably at (nothing I put in the boxes, stays in there, NOTHING)

Funny, because I have the exact same problem! Everything I put in its on the coop floor the next morning. I use compacted straw, but the scratch in it until it's all on the floor. I have used pine shavings and they scratch that too. They don't scratch the coop floor which is a combo of sand and some PDZ.

Mine are close to laying age, 4 of them are 16 to 17 weeks old (2 brown leghorns and 2 golden comets). My 3 others are 13 weeks so not quite ready (orpington, ameraucana and cochin)

 

[aart]

Funny, because I have the exact same problem! Everything I put in its on the coop floor the next morning. I use compacted straw, but the scratch in it until it's all on the floor. I have used pine shavings and they scratch that too. They don't scratch the coop floor which is a combo of sand and some PDZ.

Mine are close to laying age, 4 of them are 16 to 17 weeks old (2 brown leghorns and 2 golden comets). My 3 others are 13 weeks so not quite ready (orpington, ameraucana and cochin)

New layers do that...always.
They should stop once they get things smoothed out..up to a month or so.
Tho I do have one hen that started doing this again....drives me nuts!

 

[RowanTheRed]

New layers do that...always.
They should stop once they get things smoothed out..up to a month or so.
Tho I do have one hen that started doing this again....drives me nuts!

Lord I hope so! It drives me nuts to see the coop floor covered in the straw I put in the boxes right after I've cleaned the coop out

 

[NorthTexasWink]

You know how teenaged girls are at the onset of puberty? That's how young pullets are. Frustrating, moody, scattered, and just plain mean at times. It's a wonder either survives to adulthood.

 

[aart]

Lord I hope so! It drives me nuts to see the coop floor covered in the straw I put in the boxes right after I've cleaned the coop out

Well, it also helps to have good lips on fronts of nests.
The round entrances I use really help with that.

 

[RowanTheRed]

Well, it also helps to have good lips on fronts of nests.
The round entrances I use really help with that.

There IS a pretty good lip on them, about 6 inches I'd say