Aren't Polish a hoot! :) I've got three of them myself and they are characters...

All of my hens are fine with straw in wooden nest boxes, but I do have a lip about three inches high on the front of my boxes to prevent the hens from kicking the straw out when they are in there fussing around. I'd hesitate to use foam since the chickens could conceivably ingest it if little chunks break loose. The only other non-toxic thing I could think of is sand...

Have you tried making the nesting material a tad deeper? I know someone who had a similar problem until she simply added another inch of straw and presto--! No more problem. Hens also prefer a dark hidey-hole type of nest to make them feel more secure and as if they were hiding their clutch for protection from predators.

Whatever you try, good luck with it! :)

Velvet ~:>

I think I will try the sand. Thought about kitty litter, but I have the clumping kind, and wouldn't use that. Maybe I should put curtains on the openings, and teach them to close when they lay! Polish Crested are a lot of fun - they are so friendly and intelligent. I go to your site a lot, Velvet. Thanks for all the information.

You can purchase plastic nest pads through the Murray McMurray website.

I wouldn't use cat litter, the clumping kind will most likely 'clump' in the birds' crop and kill them. Regular, old-fashioned Panamint earth cat litter is probably safe, though. Just remember that chickens eat freakin' everything. *L*

For my nest boxes (five in a row, all attached) I simply took a length of that loosely-woven black landscape fabric and stapled it along the top and let it hang down like a curtain, then cut a slit in it from top to bottom at the center of each nest. The chickens can come and go as they please, the fabric breathes well so they don't get too hot, plus it's plastic and cleans easily. It keeps each nest just dark enough to please the girls. :)

Velvet ~:>