What Do You Fill Your Nestboxes With??

[9ByDesign]

IS the DE for bug / pest control?

Good idea SGTMOM...I'll think about that one.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I read on the forum where someone used the shavings on the bottom of the nest box and then placed their hay on top. That way when they sit there and fix there nest up there's always a barrier between the box and the egg. Haven't tried it yet but I've been planning on it!!

I use hay and buy a square bale for about $5. I can use that for about a year when it's just for the nest boxes. I fill them up get 2 x large size garbage bags and slide the bag on each end and store it in my shed!! Works perfectly!!

 

[boxcarbill16]

hey folks was wondering if theres any chicken farms around the north central part of okla. cant even find a person localy that raises chickens. anyone on here from okla. ?

 

[Royd]

Yard litter....After all, let a chicken make a nest, on her own, and see what she uses.

 

[DPC poultry]

I use hay

 

[The Sheriff]

I just switched to plastic nest pads. My alpha hen, Judge Judy will not allow any nesting material in the boxes. While I am at one end putting it in, she is at the other taking it out. We were ending up with cracked and broken eggs and egg eating. So I built a rear roll-out nest box for my icelandics and ordered extra nest pads for the Mixed layer coop. The pads have been in for two days and she hasn't bothered them. Score: Me 1, Judy 0. You can buy them online. Just Google nest pads. I got mine at QC Supply.

 

[kateseidel]

I don't have a particular preference - but my hens definitely prefer hay!!

 

[BankerJohn]

I may be the odd one out here. I do not use pine needles, pine shavings, corn cobs or any other organic material. As I looked into what to use, my requirements were something that 1) would work; 2) was cheap; 3) was recyclable and reusable; 4) could be cleaned.

The result was for me to use a door mat. The plastic wire grass door mat is what I settled upon. Our nest boxes are 5 gallon buckets laying on their side with the cut piece of door mat lining the bucket. When the mat gets messy, I just pull it out, shake it - hose it off if needed then dry - and place it back in the bucket. Now I don't have to buy anything for a nesting box.

My only consumable for the chickens are the food (pellets).

 

[9ByDesign]

Do they "like" that? Do they ever mess on them much?

 

[OkChickens]

Quote:
Straw for me also. It works well and lasts a long time!

-Nate