What do you put in your nest boxes?

[MissMarple]

We won't need them for a while but I'm wondering what material y'all use in your nest boxes. Hay? Straw? Shavings? I don't know what else... What's worked best for you and why? All opinions/options welcome!!

 

[Folly's place]

Mine are plastic 'egg crates' on a shelf in a row, and there's a feed bag folded on the bottom, with shavings, straw, or hay on top. usually it's shavings, but it depends on what I have available.
The birds rearrange everything, and work to remove the bedding, so more goes in as they kick it out.
Mary

 

[MissMarple]

Mine are plastic 'egg crates' on a shelf in a row, and there's a feed bag folded on the bottom, with shavings, straw, or hay on top. usually it's shavings, but it depends on what I have available.
The birds rearrange everything, and work to remove the bedding, so more goes in as they kick it out.
Mary

Never thought about the idea of lining it with something before putting some sort of bedding in! Will definitely make a note of that!

 

[so lucky]

I have hay in mine. I need to put a couple more golf balls in; only have one in one of 3 nests.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I use shredded paper (from our shredder) and top with either our local grass (green panic) or the dropped Timothy hay from our horses bales, or a 1,2,3 combo.
I like the shredded paper because it pads and shapes nicely, grass gives it a nice berm and i can afford to replace often. Everything composts too.

 

[MissMarple]

I have hay in mine. I need to put a couple more golf balls in; only have one in one of 3 nests.

Golf balls to teach them where to lay? I know I've been reading a ton about broodiness and golf balls, wooden and ceramic eggs for both broodiness and showing them where to lay. Do you have success with golf balls?

 

[MissMarple]

I use shredded paper (from our shredder) and top with either our local grass (green panic) or the dropped grass of Timothy hay from our horses bales, or a 1,2,3 combo.
I like the shredded paper because it pads and shapes nicely, grass gives it a nice berm and i can afford to replace often. Everything composts too.

I like all of this! hah! I definitely would love to start a compost. Seems like a waste not to!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Shaving prefer white only

 

[Rietta]

I use hay its easy and quick the change out, I also use ceramic eggs from the craft store (hobby lobby) they are much cheaper than the ones sold for chickens. I keep them in some boxes all the time to deter egg eating. They peck it, and nothing. Also just know, every single hen wants to use the same box.. I have 9 hens and 12 boxes.. they use 2 most of the time. Sometimes I find one in the box and one sitting on top of her They work it out. Enjoy!

 

[TropicalBabies]

I like all of this! hah! I definitely would love to start a compost. Seems like a waste not to!

REALLY helps with the poop smell and muck situation. I recommend looking for a compost tumbler on craigslist to start you off. I keep mine in their run and scrape poop daily from the boards, add kitchen greens, coffee grinds, egg shells, leaves... no meat or dairy or oils.
can't beat it.