What do you put in your nest boxes?

[Bound to Sea]

What is that? I don't think I have ever seen anything like it. After almost nine years, we are going to have to replace our plastic boxes before too long, one already shattered (we had five).

Lol! It's called an open nest box. Peavey Mart here in Alberta has them! Just screw it to the wall. You can get full ones too. I have a small coop so I went with the open ones.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Lol! It's called an open nest box. Peavey Mart here in Alberta has them! Just screw it to the wall. You can get full ones too. I have a small coop so I went with the open ones. View attachment 1895558

Ooooh, drool! I'll check em out. Thanks!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I tried shavings, hay, paper... Here's what I use now. They can't kick it out, but they can still make cozy nests in them. I have a pullet who occasionally sleeps in one (bottom of the pecking order - poor, neurotic little thing), but all i have to do to clean out her, ahem, nightly deposits is take it out and shake it off. I've had these same ones for about 5 months and haven't needed to switch them out yet. I love them!

 

[MaryJanet]

There's a farm near us (Torwood Farm) producing mini bales of dust-extracted straw and hay. Pretty sure they're targetting kids with hamsters and bunnies, but I put their straw in the nesting box and it's perfect.

 

[woodmort]

For 29 years I used straw--worked ok but the birds kick it out and ate it so, it didn't take long before it wasn't cushioning the eggs. Also it was hard to find a place to store it that didn't attract rodents. This spring I purchased artificial turf mats from McMurray that I am very happy with. They cushion the eggs and are easy to clean--just shake or hose them off, The birds have adapted well to them. The initial price is steep but they should last a long time and the convenience makes it worth it.

 

[Bound to Sea]

Great ideas everyone! I am going to try the shredded paper and retry the artificial turf mats in my open box. But going to keep the hay in the wooden boxes as those are working for now.

 

[cmom]

I have tried many things over the years, straw, hay, spanish moss and now pine shavings. I do put golf balls in the nest boxes. I have had less of a problem especially with new layers. Everyone likes to lay in the same few nest boxes. These are older pictures.

 

[Bound to Sea]

I have tried many things over the years, straw, hay, spanish moss and now pine shavings. I do put golf balls in the nest boxes. I have had less of a problem especially with new layers. Everyone likes to lay in the same few nest boxes. These are older pictures.
View attachment 1895881 View attachment 1895885 View attachment 1895908

Nice big nests! I tried a communal one but it didn't work so well so I put the divider back in. My coop came with 3 nests....I think they were too small for my large breeds so I made two out of them. Love pics! Thanks!

 

[Wisewillow]

i wonder if the ceramic egg is too cold t sit on. Probably feels dead at first.

 

[igorsMistress]

My nest box is on the ground so I have Timothy hay on top of pine flakes.