what to put in nest box?

[sheeshshe]

am I supposed to put straw or hay? is there anything else I can use besides this? or is this what is recommended?

 

[ghillie]

I use straw over a piece of carpet. The carpet just as a cushion when they dig down to the bottom. I have heard people use wood chips and shredded paper also.......

 

[Nemo]

We just have straw... I'll have to look into the carpet layer, because they do dig right down to the wood.

When you get within a couple weeks of your first eggs, put a few golf balls in the boxes. The hens will learn that they aren't anything to eat, and the boxes are a safe place to lay eggs.

 

[milleryardchx]

I put shavings in then a layer of straw we are out of straw today so we used hay the gals didn't care

 

[Mahonri]

Note to self. Get some carpet.

 

[sheeshshe]

ahhhh, carpet! Thank you! the people who had this coop before had wire bottom and I'm thinking that it can't be too comfortable under the beddign! carpet is going in! now I just need to find some scraps!

so i could put shredded paper in there? I think I'll try it!!! I have time, lots of time... but I want to have it all figured out ahead of time! thank yoU!

 

[Kim_NC]

I fill ours with wood shavings....usually pine, although I have bought aspen when that's all I could find. Also, don't get cedar - supposedly it has a natural chemical that's toxic to chickens.

I use a very thick layer of shavings, about 4-5 inches deep. The hens rarely dig to the bottom. We have plastic easter eggs and golf balls in the nest boxes.

ETA: We use hay on the coop floors for bedding. The hens enjoy scratching through it and munching the seeds and dry grass blades, especially in winter. I keep shavings on the floor area around waterers since they absorb better.

 

[Snap62]

Quote:
Thanks for the information. My kudos to you Sir

 

[Fancie]

I use alphalfa... it smells good. I buy 2 or 3 bales a year from wal-mart. 1 bale works for 4 nest boxes.