Recalcitrant chooks

[Tulipwood]

Why do my chooks continue to scrape out their laying nest bedding? I've used straw, shredded paper (what a mess!!) and lucerne. In exasperation I left the box empty... until one of them decided it would be better to lay in a little hole she'd dug in the middle of the eggodome.
What can I put in there that they'll leave alone?

[purplepear]

You can try shell grit - it is a good place to keep it available for them too.

[eco4560]

Mine did this at first. Nothing stayed in the laying box. They eventually worked out that sitting on bare plastic wasn't nice, and now they scratch stuff INTO the box to make bedding rather than out of it!

[Tulipwood]

Great tips - thanks PP and Eco. Shell grit and tell 'em to get used to it hey. I can do that.

[Terra]

Best Ive found is corse washed sand together with putting your nests up higher with a ladder type access , works well during wet periods helping to keep eggs clean . Also mice cant hide under nest boxes .
Terra