I’ve been using hay, which the birds really like, but as they settle in and make a nice hollow to set in, they tend to push a ton of the hay out of the box. I’m tired of constantly picking up the displaced hay. The boxes are plenty big, it’s not like I’m overstuffing them with bedding.
So, any suggestions for alternate types of nest box bedding?
We just use fine shavings in the inside part of the coop and in the next boxes.
I use shavings and top it off with hay. They do tend to move the hay around but with the shavings underneath, they still have nesting material and I don’t have to worry about replacing hay.
I just use shavings.
I use hay because it’s “free” but have heard people really rave about the excelsior pads:
https://americanexcelsior.com/wood-fibers/applications/excelsior-poultry-pads/
You can find them at TSC or Amazon or Chewy or various other farm type stores.
I’ve used fine pine shavings (same as I use in stalls) for 10+yrs.
A 40# bag lasts me months & the same bag is used for the coop floor.
Once a year - usually Spring - I sweep out the old shavings (broken down into sawdust by hens scratching), put down Sevin on both floor & in nestboxes & fresh shavings over that.
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