Wood shavings in nesting boxes

[LVVCHAP]

Can you use wood shavings in your nesting boxes or do you have to have hay? I don't have a good place to store hay very well but have plenty of wood shavings.

 

[kinnip]

I use wood shavings because I'm so allergic to straw. It's a bit of a pain in the tookus. They empty those shavings from the box in no time and I have had a few cracked eggs as a result. I'm thinking about investing in some Excelsior nesting pads. I don't know why I can't bring myself to use hay. I guess I'm just greedy with it. Hay is food, and good hay is hoardable food.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I've always used wood shavings in my nest boxes.

 

[Slightly Cracked]

I recently started using shavings in my nest baxes instead of hay and I LOVE IT!!!!. The hens don't seem to scratch them out near as bad and the eggs are staying MUCH cleaner.
I also did it because I didn' have hay available to use. It has worked great for me.

SC

 

[ginasmarans]

I've been using wood shavings for several years. The eggs seem to be cleaner. Also,mites like to live in the hollows of straw and hay,especially in the Winter time.

 

[Montana-Hens]

I use a combination of both straw and shavings.

 

[setter4]

Quote:
Me too!

 

[chickensista]

I use wood shavings as well. I put a lot in because they do seem to scratch to the bottome fast. To help prevent broken eggs you can put a cardboard square in the bottom. A little bit more cushion than a wood bottom. The Excelsior pads work great, but are over a $1 a piece. I will admit I just put some in, but only because we've had a few shell-less eggs lately. When the new layers get it together I'm going back to cardboard. I hate cleaning out an eggie nest! blech

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
Ditto

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
Ditto

Since I have horses I have an ample supply of shavings so I use them as well.