What is the best bedding for nest boxes?

[BWchicken]

What should I put in the nest boxes? I see that many use "straw" but what kind? The only kind I've seen local is really stiff wheat straw, is that what most use? Does anyone use regular pine shavings? The nest boxes are dry inside the coop but I figure whatever I put in them will end up scattered outside the coop so I wouldn't want to use anything that molds or mildews easily. Also wondering if something stiff like wheat straw might hurt them if they ate it. My 12 soon-to-be-laying girls are all bantams. I want to give them a good place to lay their eggs, I'm just not sure what material I should (or shouldn't) use. I appreciate any advice!

Thanks!

 

[RevaVirginia]

I have the same sort of quandary when I think of my chickens comfort and safety. Personally I think the best bedding would have to the the Tempurpedic mattress but I feel I may be stretching things a bit so I used both straw and pine bedding that I bought at TSC and let the chickens decide which is better. Good luck with your quandary.

 

[theFox]

I'm using pine shavings over a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet.

The girls rearrange the pine shavings as they lay and the carpet is both easy to clean and quite good at acting as a cushion.

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

I have used both pine shavings and oat straw. Both seem to work pretty well for me, but I will say the hens seemed to scratch out the shavings easier than the straw.

David

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I prefer long needle pine straw over anything.

But what I typically use is Bermuda hay because I can get it when I want it whether it's been rainy or no.

I've tried pine shavings, but the birds scratch around in them so much the eggs are often covered which leads to a greater chance they'll be missed when my daughter gathers them.

I've also tried shredded paper, but it tends to mat down too much.

This spring I'm going to experiment with mixing some cedar shavings into the hay to see if they will deter fire ants. They can be a dang nuisance in the south.

.....Alan.

 

[fordmommy]

This same question was asked on 11/04/09. Here's the post. Hope it helps.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=263365

 

[bantamsrus]

I use shredded paper--the girls don't pick through it, it's free

, and you just burn it when it's dirty (we live in the stix and have a burn barrel)

I get mine from work--we have tons of it!

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Well I also use my shreaded bills and junk mail. But the girls would move them around and drop the eggs on the wooden bottom, so today I lined the bottom with outdoor carpeting, which I intentionally left some of the paper under the carpet for added cushion. And then I shreaded my 7 year old electric bills to give them some fresh stuff. I don't burn the old shavings, however. I put them in the compost pile.

 

[ace6175]

I use the dried grass clippings from our lawn, just fluff it up a bit after I collect the eggs. Eventually it ends up on the floor and I add more. We collect 15 bags this summer. And it's all free (except for the bags, which I will use again!)