What is the best nesting material for boxes?

[gritsar]

Quote:
Me too!

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Mine aren't laying yet but I've been keeping straw/hay in the nesting box anyway. And my three little ladies most certainly do eat it. But NOT from the nest box itself. There's a drain/slit in the bottom for easy cleaning and little pieces fall out to the run below. There's never any left after an hour or so after I let them into the run.

 

[Judy]

All I can get conveniently is straw or pine shavings. They kick the pine shavings out, and happily make nests in the hay. I've never seen them eat any -- which is not to say it can't happen.

 

[Ohhhdear]

I shred old newspapers and line the nestboxes with that. The chickens love playing with the long strands of paper, the newsprint is non toxic soy ink, it's unbelievably cheap and composts very well. Occasionally the wet bloom from a newly laid egg will make a bit of paper stick to the egg, but it peels off and any ink marks rub off under hot water.

 

[jaimslee4u]

Quote:
They don't usually eat the hay, however I had a friend have to do emergency crop surgery on one of her girls and she found a lot of hay in there. This chicken however, also had a moth ball in there so I am not sure if she would be considered a normal chicken!

I use shavings and the hay on top for extra cushion. I think I may switch to straw though because it doesn't mold like hay when it gets wet.

 

[BOB AVERY]

have 4 yellow buff 4 golden buff all are real friendly & gentle chicks. they are 4months old .

 

[growyourbrew]

I use hay and yes, they will eat the hay

 

[4Kids 8Chicks]

So do you use pine shavings on the floor and in the nesting boxes?

 

[MinBH2O]

Does anyone have experience using a section of astro turf/ artificial grass? Built an external access nest box, stained to seal the wood. Looking for something that is easy maintainence and easy to clean.....in addition to being pleasant for the ladies. Planning on using shavings and hay on top. Anyone add food grade DE to manage mites?

 

[Delight30]

I was thinking about shredding all our junk mail and using that. Will the ink be an issue? I didn't think about that until a read the post above regarding the soy based ink in newspapers.