The folks I got my pullets from suggested I buy wood shavings to put in the nesting boxes, as that's what they use. They clean it out once a week and put it in the compost heap. They also suggested we put some alfalfa hay in the bottom of the run, and the chickens eat the alfalfa (they love it & it's good for them). I rake it out once a week and dump the spent hay straw into my compost heap.
So far, that seems to be going well, though we're only in our 3rd week as "chicken parents". I think now, though, that the alfalfa hay is superfluoous--the chickens could take it or leave it. I think it was good to have it when we first brought them here, as it was a smell and taste they were familiar with & made the transition from their original home to here a little less stressful. At least that's what I'm telling myself. LOL.
So far, that seems to be going well, though we're only in our 3rd week as "chicken parents". I think now, though, that the alfalfa hay is superfluoous--the chickens could take it or leave it. I think it was good to have it when we first brought them here, as it was a smell and taste they were familiar with & made the transition from their original home to here a little less stressful. At least that's what I'm telling myself. LOL.