What's the best nesting box materials?

[Two Chicksahs]

Hi y'all! My chicks are getting closer to laying age now. My Silver Cuckoo Maran, "Ruby", should be laying soon so I put some hay in the boxes twice now, in a design of what I thought looked like nests. I even put some ceramic eggs in them but they knocked the eggs out, and one I haven't located. Out of four boxes one has almost no hay in it and the rest barely have any. What should I do? Is hay a good material for nesting boxes or perhaps more fir shavings? Should I get some more hay? Why are they emptying out the nesting boxes? I admit to perhaps not being a hen(well yeah I'm trying to empathize with them.) or having seen any nesting boxes lately except at a quick glance.
They get all kinds of greens from around our property, scratch and some fruits so I'm guessing they are getting close and they are developing combs and wattles. I just want to be sure that I have the proper materials available when the time arises. Any advise or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GitaBooks]

My chickens like kicking hey and fake eggs out of their nests too. They are kind of picky at times, and then other times they lay on top of a mound of their own droppings. Hay/straw, special nest box liners (easy to clean), and wood chips/shavings all can work. Make sure the lip is high enough they won't easily kick it out. Try getting a fake egg that weighs like a real egg and just weight. They should get the hang of it soon.

Chickens are very curious, they are probably digging in the nest box in search of food. They could also be checking it out as a good nesting site.

I hope this helps. Best of luck!

 

[Two Chicksahs]

Quote:
Thanks so much! We have a porch on the nesting boxes but didn't put a "lip" or something like that on it. Darn it! I may have to go in there on my knees again! Ouch! You were right that the ceramic eggs I got at Dennis and Co. are a bit light and one seems to have either hatched or has been buried! Thanks for your suggestions! I guess I need to go buy another bale of hay. At least they're affordable. Its been raining at night here in the last two days but thankfully I have an area that's covered with a tarpaulin. Well wishes to you and yours!

 

[Two Chicksahs]

Quote:
Thanks so much! We have a porch on the nesting boxes but didn't put a "lip" or something like that on it. Darn it! I may have to go in there on my knees again! Ouch! You were right that the ceramic eggs I got at Dennis and Co. are a bit light and one seems to have either hatched or has been buried! Thanks for your suggestions! I guess I need to go buy another bale of hay. At least they're affordable. Its been raining at night here in the last two days but thankfully I have an area that's covered with a tarpaulin. Well wishes to you and yours!