Nesting & Bedding
Nesting boxes, roosts and bedding make hens comfortable and eggs clean. The right bedding also controls moisture and odour.
Best Hemp Bedding for Chicken Coops
Hemp hurd absorbs more than shavings, drops less dust and composts fast. Compare hemp beddings by particle size, bale weight and true cost per month.
Best Nesting Boxes for Chickens
Private, well-placed nest boxes keep eggs clean and unbroken. Compare metal, plastic and wooden boxes for easy cleaning, hen comfort and simple mounting.
Best Roll Away Nest Boxes
Roll away boxes move each egg out of reach seconds after laying, cutting breakage, egg eating and mess. Compare slopes, mats, trays and flock sizes here.
Best Nesting Pads for Nest Boxes
Nest pads cushion eggs, cut breakage and make box cleanout a quick swap. Compare excelsior, rubber and washable pads for comfort, fit and long term cost.
Best Roosting Bars and Chicken Perches
Hens sleep on a perch by instinct, so bar shape and height matter. Compare wood, resin and mountable roosts for grip, foot comfort and easy coop cleaning.
Best Coop Bedding for Chickens
The right bedding controls moisture, odor and dust in a coop all year. Compare pine shavings, hemp, straw and chopped options for absorbency and cost.
Best Sand for Chicken Coops and Runs
Coarse construction sand drains well and sifts clean, but play sand does not. Compare grades, grain size and dust for coop floors, runs and dust baths.
Best Poop Trays for Under Roosts
A tray under the roost catches most of the night's droppings in one place. Compare metal and plastic droppings boards for fit, cleaning and coop hygiene.
Best Coop Deodorizers and Odor Control
Coop smell is usually damp litter, not dirt. Compare zeolite, mineral and herbal deodorizers that cut ammonia without adding clouds of dust to the air.
Best Coop Odor Control
Coop ammonia is a moisture problem long before it is a cleaning problem: absorbent bedding, a mineral binder, dropping trays and enzyme cleaners in order.
How to choose
- Provide one nest box per 3-4 hens.
- Place roosts higher than nest boxes.
- Use absorbent bedding such as hemp or pine shavings.
- Add poop trays under roosts for easier cleaning.
Common questions
How high should roosting bars be?
Roosts are commonly placed about 18-24 inches or more above the floor, and always higher than nest boxes so hens do not sleep in them.
What bedding is best for a coop?
Hemp and large-flake pine shavings absorb well and control odour. Avoid cedar shavings, which can irritate respiratory systems.