What is the best nesting material for boxes?

[vpatt]

I have hay in most of my nest boxes and I have pine shavings in another. The girls have all switched to the pine. So my girls have chosen deep pine over hay.
Caroline

Where do you buy pine shavings? Pet store or co-op?

 

[Aronia]

I use straw and pine shavings.

 

[artistazalea]

What about plain old grass clippings? Is that a bad idea?

 

[CandylandRanch]

Okay, I had this idea, because as a child it worked wonders for our hamsters.. I suggested it to my husband and he gave me a funny weird raised eyebrow look.. So here I am.. What about dryer lint?? It's free, soft, get more every day (at least in my household lol) it's clean... Haha..
Has anyone ever heard of this or have any ideas as to why this might be bad? I haven't used it yet as I wanted to present it to some pros here in BYC first...

 

[Tanichca]

Rice hulls! Repel moisture, so the poo in the boxes just dries up instead of sticking everywhere, making for easy cleaning. Cheaper than hay or shavings, definitely fun for the birds to dig in... been using it for a few months, and will never, ever switch back to hay.

 

[vpatt]

Rice hulls! Repel moisture, so the poo in the boxes just dries up instead of sticking everywhere, making for easy cleaning. Cheaper than hay or shavings, definitely fun for the birds to dig in... been using it for a few months, and will never, ever switch back to hay. 

Where do you find rice hulls......I am all for cheaper as long as it is safe for the chickens.

 

[Tanichca]

Quote: We bought ours at Petsmart... though I know some feed stores carry them, too.

 

[vpatt]

We bought ours at Petsmart... though I know some feed stores carry them, too. 

Rats! I was just in there and started to ask and then I saw a bag of shredded paper for $25 and forgot to ask about rice hulls. I can call around. I did get two sacks of sand at Lowes and I'm going to put some at the run entrance. I already have it in the coop mixed with pdz

 

[silkymom]

i like to use pine in the bottom and cut grass clippings in the summer, smells good, and straw in winter for warmth, they still sleep in the boxes,

 

[Abirdy]

I must say using shredded paper is not good. All my chickens started pulling it out and eating it. I had to close off the box until I could get some shavings and straw.