MaryKate Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 I hope I am posting this in the right area - apologies if not. Does anyone know whether it is ok to use shredded office paper in the nesting box. I often have so much of the stuff, it would be good to make use of it. I have only had my girls for 3 week and Clodagh has started laying already! Five eggs, smallish but still very good! So far I have put barley straw in their nest and they seem to either eat half of it (to no deteriment so far) or just turf it out. They are not very house proud! I am wondering whether the shredded paper might be too dusty or the ink might be bad for chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Yes, many people use shredded paper in their nest box. No-one will want to try to access confidential info once it has been pooped on. The only draw backs are that it isn't as absorbent as 'proper' bedding materials, composts slowly, (and any inks might not be terribly good for the environment) ... and if it is shredded into strips rather than cross cut, it can occasionally tangle round the hens legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Yes shredded paper is fine to use in the nest box, I used to use it myself. Egluntyne is correct that it's not very absorbant and you may find you are changing it most days if your girls poo in their nest box. However, if you've got a plentiful supply of free bedding then that's not a problem really! I only stopped using it because supply couldn't keep upwith demand (my girls are very poopy ). You can send the barley straw my way though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I used it once but the hens tried to eat it so I just use Aubiose in everything now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryKate Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 Thank you for your replies - so pleased I can now use the shredded paper without too much worry. All of it is cross shredded so shouldn't present them with the tangling problem. I will probably mix it with a bit of straw - but it will save some money. In the past, I have composted it (prior to having chooks) and it rots down ok - but I do have 5 compost bins. They provide a brilliant source of worms but I can't bring myself to fish them out and feed them to the girls - I would feel like an accomplice to murder. They need to go find their own, I'm afraid. Both girls are now laying!!! Rather smallish - about 46g - so hopefully this will increase as they get to grips with the real business of being chickens! Time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I have used it because I can get it free from work. The downside I found was that on a windy day, when opening the coop, it would blow everywhere. Other than that it worked really well for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I used it at first but my chickens kept eating it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
