What to Use for Chicken Nesting Boxes
Choosing the right nesting material for your chicken coop is an important decision that every backyard chicken keeper has to make, The nesting box material you select will directly impact the cleanliness and integrity of the eggs your hens produce,
When evaluating nesting materials, there are a few key factors to consider:
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Absorbency – The material should soak up moisture to keep eggs clean and dry. Wet, dirty eggs can harbor bacteria.
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Odor control – Nesting material should not emit strong odors that could get absorbed into the egg shell.
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Cushion – A soft, cushiony material will prevent eggs from cracking or breaking as they are laid.
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Non-toxic – Make sure the nesting material is chemical and fume free to avoid issues.
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Price – While cost should not be the driving factor, affordable options exist for those on a budget.
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Availability – Choose a material that is easy to source and restock as needed.
With these criteria in mind, here are some of the most popular nesting box filler options:
Wood Shavings
Wood shavings, like pine or aspen, make an excellent nesting material choice. They are highly absorbent, inexpensive, and easy to find. Shavings cushion eggs nicely and resist mold or mildew. Make sure to use chemical-free shavings marketed for animal bedding. Kiln-dried pine shavings are a top pick.
Straw
Chopped straw is another budget-friendly nesting material. It allows air circulation and soaks up moisture. Straw does tend to get kicked out of the box easily. Using a stash of straw from your own property reduces cost. You can also mix straw with wood shavings.
Hay
Like straw, hay makes a low-cost, readily available filler. It should be free of dust, mold and mildew. The downside is hens will dig and scratch through hay quickly. Plan to replace it more often than other materials.
Sand
Sand makes an affordable, natural filler that hens enjoy using. It needs replaced very infrequently. The drawbacks are that eggs can get dusty and sand sticks to the egg shell. Be sure to use play sand, not construction sand.
Paper Nest Pads
Commercial nest pads made from recycled paper are growing in popularity. They are engineered to fit snugly into nest boxes. The paper pads keep their shape nicely when hens scratch at them. They are absorbent and disposable. Nest pads are a bit pricier than loose fill materials, but last a long time.
Fake Grass Mats
For a fun and modern look, try artificial turf mats as nest box liners. They provide cushion and are easy to sanitize. Fake grass is more expensive than traditional bedding, but will not get scattered out of the boxes. Shake or hose the mats to clean.
Pelleted Bedding
Pelleted nesting materials like Flock Fresh are a newer innovation. The hard pellets absorb moisture well and discourage hens from digging. They control odors better than fluffy bedding. The pellets are dust-free and non-toxic when eaten. The cost is higher than loose materials.
Crumbled Rubber
Made from recycled tires, rubber pellets are growing as a nest filler. They do not retain odors or moisture. The pellets are heavy, so hens can’t kick them out easily. They provide great cushion against cracked eggs. Rubber does cost more than traditional options.
When choosing a nesting material, strike a balance between effectiveness, cost, and convenience. While fancy, commercial products have advantages, simple, natural fillers get the job done on a budget. Ultimately, observe what your flock likes best and adjust accordingly. Stay away from fabric, netting, or string, which can tangle feet. Deep litter methods with added bedding work well for minimizing maintenance. Keep things clean and comfortable for your hens. Happy nesting!
Why do hens need nesting boxes?
Nesting boxes are essential for hens to lay their eggs. Now you will get one or two chickens that will lay in all sorts of places, but as a rule they prefer a nesting box. Using nesting boxes provide privacy from other hens, which chickens like to have. If you want more privacy you can add curtains to the nesting boxes.
Nesting boxes keep them safe from predators (especially if your coop and run are predator proof). Chickens feel safe in them.
Hens also like to use them as a place to lay on eggs when they go broody. All in all they are super important to your flock.
Now, there are multiple ways to create nesting boxes affordably and there are some really creative options as well. But today I want to talk about what to fill them with!
Believe it or not, its an important element that we sometimes probably overlook. I know I have in the past.
Traditional Nesting Box Material:
I have used traditional nesting material in our laying boxes such as hay, straw and wood shavings. While they are all good fillers, if you have chickens you know that they have a tendency to kick all the filling out onto the ground.
If you have a higher lip on the front of your nesting box, maybe you dont deal with this, but man, ours really go to town and I am constantly refilling those laying boxes.
The problem is, when they lay eggs on a hard surface, there is a bigger chance of them breaking when they are laid. They also run the risk of being smashes when another hen comes to lay(because if your hens are like mine, they all fight over the same box, even if you have multiple).
Chicken keepers like you and me cannot afford to let those delicious eggs be destroyed because of this issue. I check our nesting boxes a few times a day to prevent any issues but even with the best of intentions, you can have loss.
But, since I have started to use these chicken coop nest liners those problems seem to be a thing of the past.
Nesting Boxes for Chickens – How to Build Chicken Nest Boxes
FAQ
What is the best material for chicken nesting boxes?
Use a soft material like chopped straw and avoid irritants like sawdust and wood shavings. Adding Nesting Herbs can make the nesting box more appealing for your hens. But always use dried herbs, not fresh, as fresh herbs can become mouldy.
What to put in the bottom of a nesting box?
Good options include (untreated) chipped wood and/or chipped bark (untreated), and wood shavings (untreated wood).
Is straw or hay better for chicken nesting boxes?
However, when buying bedding for your flock it is very important that you get straw! Hay is greener and is used as livestock feed, but it’s more likely to get moldy and harbor bacteria, which is dangerous for chickens. Straw is dry and safe, making it a great option for bedding.
What do chickens like in nesting boxes?
A few of the most common, nesting materials range from pine shavings to plastic pads and chopped hay/straw/zeolite litter blends such as Flock Fresh.