What do you use in your coops and nesting boxes?

[pattee]

I have been putting straw and chips in my coop (mostly straw) I thought that was the best thing for them (?)... and the nesting boxes what have you all found to be the best thing to put in them? Newspaper, straw, chips, old clothes???

It seems I have so much straw and chips it gets hard for them to scratch.

My chicks are 6 weeks old.
Thanks~

 

[panner123]

I have found that a plastic milk crate works great for nest boxes. They are the right size for most hens and easy to clean. I fill mine with pine chips, when it is time to clean them, pick them up and take them outside, dump any droppings and dirty
chips, replace and fill back up.

 

[Dilly]

pine shavings.

 

[pattee]

Pine shaving in both coop and boxes? Hmmmm not straw at all huh?

 

[Dilly]

Yep only pine shavings. No straw.

 

[pattee]

LOL: yiipchick
Now I've got ask why?

 

[karrie]

I use lots of hay/straw. They dig a big hole in it & sit. Kinda custom made!

 

[pattycake]

I hate pine shavings. I find them to be messy and hard to compost. I only use straw and have had no problems with mites or whatever. The spilled straw rakes up easily and can be used as mulch.

I only use pines shavings with my chicks, and breath a sigh of relief when they're out of my life!

 

[panner123]

Quote:
Much easier to clean up and the poop drys out faster. This in the nest boxes gives you cleaner eggs. Using the milk crates makes that a snap. In the winter time put about four inches on the floor of the coop gives them something to play. It doesn't get moldy and smell the way straw does.

 

[bmarshgu]

I am a first time chicken owner and have read a lot of literature that says not to use straw because it can easily mold. All the books that I have read say to use wood shavings. Definitely stay away from hay!!!