Nesting Question

[amber00]

We are building a new chicken coop. I was wondering what some of you use in your nesting baskets? We usually use hay, but I've seen people using wood shavings lately. Any suggestions?

[joplinlally]

Hi
we use straw, when the hens are nesting they like to pick up bits of it and drop them on there backs, seems pointless but it keeps them happy?
kind regards
alan

[Salz]

Hi Amber,
Ive read that its better to use straw than hay due to the dust and mould that hay can have....I put a layer of woodshavings in the bottom to soak up any broken eggs or poop and then a good layer of staw... but you can also use paper from a shredder.
All the best, Salz

[LuvMyChickens]

I use grass hay. I don't like straw as it is usually pretty prickly. I don't like shavings because they tend to stay "wetter". The grass works well.

I also built some seriously low-tech droppings boards that catch all that they poop from the roost at night and that keeps the hay good for a long time.

[chicken chick]

I use hay in my boxes. The hens don't seem to mind what I use to be honest. They like throwing whatever is in there on their backs.
I hear straw is not so good as it's hollow and there are more places for disease and bugs to hide.
I chance my hay as soon as it's mucky so I always have clean eggs!

[from field to fork]

I'm a wood chip man. 18 months now with over 60 hens and not a problem.