Nest Box Queen Excelsior Nest Box Pads for Hens, 13 Inch x 13 Inch, 40 Pack Review (2026)

Who this bulk pack is for

Nest Box Queen sells these as 13 inch by 13 inch excelsior pads in bundles of 40, aimed squarely at keepers with multiple nest boxes or a flock large enough to go through liners quickly. The manufacturer describes the pads as made from Great Lakes aspen excelsior fiber adhered to a brown kraft paper backing, which is manufactured in the USA and is fully biodegradable. Buying in this quantity trades some upfront cost for fewer reorders over a season, which matters most to keepers managing four or more nest boxes rather than a single backyard coop with just one or two nests to line each week of the year.

What the pads do and how they are made

According to the manufacturer, the excelsior fiber layer is meant to cushion eggs and help minimize rolling, which in turn helps reduce cracks and breakage compared with a bare or thinly lined nest floor. The fiber is also described as drawing moisture down and away from the hen, which helps keep the top surface of the nest drier and more sanitary between changes. The kraft paper backing holds the fiber together as one flexible sheet, which the manufacturer notes can be scrunched or stretched by hand to adapt to slightly different nest box shapes and sizes found across a typical backyard coop setup.

Setup and using the pads

Installation is placing one pad kraft paper side down in a cleaned nest box, then fluffing the excelsior fibers up with your fingers to the depth you want, according to the manufacturer's instructions. That fluffing step is what gives the pad its cushioning loft rather than lying flat, so it is worth doing properly each time you change a pad rather than skipping it. Because the fibers are loose on top even though the backing holds the sheet together, some shedding into surrounding bedding is normal and expected with this style of pad, the same as with other excelsior nesting products currently sold on the market.

Storage and how it compares with smaller packs

A bundle of 40 pads takes up meaningfully more storage space than a 10 or 12 pack, and because the fiber is a natural, biodegradable material it should be kept somewhere dry to avoid it picking up moisture or mildew before use. Against MagJo's 12 pack of the same 13 by 13 inch size, this 40 pack lowers the cost per individual pad and cuts down on how often you reorder, but it is a poor fit for a keeper with only one or two nest boxes who will be storing most of the large bundle for months on a shelf before using it all up.

Verdict and who should buy a smaller pack instead

Keepers running several nest boxes or a larger laying flock will get the most value from this bulk size, consistent with our score of 8.6 out of 10 weighted heavily toward value and fit for the job. Anyone with just one or two nest boxes, or without dry indoor storage space for a large bundle, is better served by a 10 or 12 pack from Nest Box Queen or a comparable brand, since the per-pad savings here only pay off once you are actually using pads at a steady, regular pace across the whole season.

Frequently asked questions