The BEST thing for lining the nest box - according to the chickens

You speak like a doctor, absolutely fabulous videos!!

Hello, I see by your sun dress that it is the middle of summer where you are and I am inside with the heat cranked up and outside the rain pouring down in buckets. I use the artificial turf, as you do, and then top dress it with a product called Nature’s Best Chopped Straw that I buy at the local feed store. I also sprinkle it with Diatomaceous earth. We had an Americana chicken named Crow-Cuss who would go in the nest box and scratch out all this straw to the floor of the coop and then put it all back in the exact position she thought it should be…she would be in there for hours content to “make it her own”. We have inexpensive video cameras in the coop and have watched her do this many times - it was fascinating and even comical…chickens provide great entertainment that is so much cheaper than going to the movies!!! Til next time, Diane in Oregon with Daisy, Mahogany, Reba and Lucy (all Rhode Island Reds).

Cusco, Peru here. We use wood shavings and dried ichu, a perennial grass from the highlands. We add charcoal, wood ash, DE, flowers and herbs to the nesting boxes. All these goes on top of thick rubber just in case we get a broken egg. The ladies like it... And the curtains are cute 😂.

Roll-a-way boxes are good to prevent your girl from going Broody ;)

I use the artificial turf only in the nest box and they seem to be happy with that. Clean and easy to change out when needed!

Very timely video. Last year, I used the excelsior nesting pads. The chickens loved them for all the reasons you covered. Unfortunately, one of my hens no longer lays eggs with shells and frequently leaves a wet mess. I've experimented with a rubber bathmath, but the chickens managed to displace it with their scratchings. I switched to pine shavings but the hens will unvaringly clear a hole and leave the eggs to drop on the hard plastic floor--but I'll try again with another mat or maybe a silicone pad. Your chart showed that aspen doesn't seen to be a problem, so I'll also keep an eye out for that! Thanks for making your videos. :)

Thanks so much. Your videos are so informative and have so many great ideas. Awesome production values too 😃

Very helpful - thanks.

Another great video! Thank you! I use straw in my coop and in the laying boxes. I like to use straw in the coop (on the floor) and in the boxes because I can take the dirty straw, put it in a pile to compost for a while, then use in my gardens. Nothing gets wasted. I haven't privetized the laying boxes very well, but you've given me some ideas about how to do that. Also, for what to put in the bottom of the boxes. Thanks! You're the best!

Have often wondered whats a good choice for lining but hadnt thought about which factors to prioritise. Appreciate you sharing your thought process on how to choose a lining. Happy new year from Aus!

Thank you! Very informative. 🙂

I have been pondering changing my material up lately. My hens lay where ever they like. They didn’t love our rollaway boxes so we changed them to flat boxes and they still lay whereever. Everything is muddy, wet, and gross right now with the weather. So I have to throughly wash the eggs and search all over the coop for them. I think I will try what you do and also do some curtains. Thank you for sharing. Watching from mid USA and I have to say your sundress has me looking forward to summer. We have 8 inches of snow and its a winter wonderland. Super beautiful and fun but oh to be chicken season again!!! I can’t wait to do my chicken chores in the warmth again.

Hi sand has worked well in my grandma's house with hens

Interesting! Thank you

Hello there! Very good video. I use dustless wood shavings for my nest boxes and for inside the coop and their loft (a box that catches their droppings) And I it to make chicken compost later.

I use sawdust and pine needles in my nest boxes. Or dried grass clippings after a mowing .

What breed is the beautiful grey/silver hen @5:58 ?

I use shavings in my nest boxes but I have to change it daily as the chickens also sleep in the nest boxes. I also use shavings under the roost bars as it helps to reduce ‘stuff’ getting stuck to the hen house floor. Not all my chickens sleep in the nest boxes, as I do have piles of ‘stuff’ under the roost bars. Have you any suggestions that will encourage my hens to sleep in the roost bars rather than in the nest boxes?

Great video ♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰 have a great day my friend ♥️🎉😍🙌‼️🐔🩷🫶🏼🫶🏼♥️♥️♥️💕💕

Was that a clip of Gonzo? So beautiful. I have straw nesting box square pads and herbs in my boxes. My hens in the big coop have really been struggling to lay lately. Between molting, injury, and a few with some type of respiratory issue and less daylight it is way down. The other flock in the smaller coop lays regularly. Enjoy your sunny weather. Great video!