6 Best Nesting Pads For Chicken Tractors In Mobile Coops To Keep Eggs Clean
Choosing the right nesting pad is key for clean eggs in mobile coops. Explore our top 6 picks for chicken tractors, from washable to disposable options.
There’s nothing more frustrating than moving your chicken tractor to fresh pasture, only to find the nest box eggs are smeared with mud and manure. In a mobile coop, space is tight and cleanliness is a constant battle. The right nesting pad isn’t just about hen comfort; it’s a critical tool for saving you time and ensuring you get clean, usable eggs every single day.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
National Poultry Turf Pad: Top for Durability
This is the workhorse of nesting pads. Made from a tough, astroturf-like material, the National Poultry Turf Pad is designed to withstand years of scratching, pecking, and daily use. Its rigid structure and bristly texture do a great job of letting manure and debris fall through, keeping the surface where the egg sits relatively clean.
The real benefit here is longevity. You buy it once, and you’re likely set for the life of your chicken tractor. Cleaning is straightforward—pull it out, hit it with a high-pressure hose, and let it dry in the sun. This durability also discourages hens from shredding their bedding and eating their own eggs, a habit that can be hard to break once it starts.
The main tradeoff is the upfront cost, which is higher than disposable options. It also doesn’t absorb any moisture, so in a humid environment or if a waterer gets knocked over, you need good ventilation to prevent a damp, smelly situation. It’s a fantastic "set it and forget it" solution, as long as your coop’s airflow is solid.
Chick-N-Pads Silicone Pad: Easiest to Sanitize
If biosecurity and speed-cleaning are your top priorities, nothing beats a silicone pad. The Chick-N-Pads are completely non-porous, meaning bacteria, mites, and moisture have nowhere to hide. This is a huge advantage in the tight quarters of a chicken tractor, where pests and illness can spread quickly.
Cleaning is where this pad truly shines. A broken egg or a pile of manure isn’t a disaster; you just pull the pad out, wipe it down with a disinfectant or soapy water, and it’s good as new in minutes. For a busy hobby farmer, that time savings adds up significantly over a season.
Of course, it’s not a natural material, and some hens might take a little while to get used to the texture. Because it has zero absorbency, any liquid mess will pool on the surface, so you have to address it right away. It’s the ultimate choice for a clean freak but requires you to be on top of your daily coop checks.
Petmate Aspen Excelsior Pads: Best for Composting
Keep your chicken nesting boxes clean and eggs easily accessible with these 13" x 13" aspen excelsior pads. Made in the USA from sustainably sourced materials, these pads elevate eggs and allow droppings to filter away, promoting a drier, healthier environment.
Excelsior pads are the classic, no-fuss solution for nesting boxes. These are essentially mats of thin aspen wood shavings held together with a light, degradable binder. They provide a soft, natural cushion that hens instinctively like.
Their single greatest advantage is their connection to your garden. When a pad gets soiled, you don’t clean it—you just toss the entire thing into your compost pile. This creates a perfect closed-loop system on a small homestead, turning chicken waste directly into valuable garden fertilizer with zero effort.
The downside is that they are a consumable product, creating a recurring expense. Hens also love to tear them apart, which means they can get messy and lose their cushioning ability over time, potentially leading to more cracked eggs. They are an excellent choice if your goal is to build soil and minimize daily chores.
Eaton Pet & Pasture Hemp Pads: Natural Absorbency
Hemp is a powerhouse of natural absorbency, and these pads bring that quality directly to your nest box. They are soft, dense, and can soak up an impressive amount of moisture, which is a huge help for keeping eggs pristine even on damp mornings. This wicking action is what sets them apart from simple wood shavings.
Like excelsior, hemp pads are fully compostable, fitting perfectly into a sustainable farming model. They are also naturally resistant to mold and bacteria, which can help keep the nest box environment healthier. Many farmers find that hemp has a less dusty profile than pine shavings, improving the air quality inside a small tractor.
The main consideration is cost and availability, as hemp can be more expensive than traditional aspen pads. They will also break down with use and need to be replaced regularly. Think of them as a premium, natural disposable that offers superior moisture control.
Hen Saver Nesting Pad: Soft and Cushioned Comfort
Provide a comfortable and clean laying environment for your hens with Eaton Pet & Pasture Nesting Pads. Made from sustainably harvested aspen, these 13x13 pads help minimize egg breakage and simplify egg collection.
Some hens are just plain picky about where they lay. The Hen Saver pad is designed with maximum comfort in mind, featuring a soft, cushioned surface that mimics a natural, leafy nest. This can be a lifesaver for encouraging stubborn hens to use the nest box instead of laying on the floor of the tractor.
The extra cushioning is also a major benefit for preventing cracked eggs. If you have a breed known for thinner shells or a hen that plops her eggs down with force, this pad can dramatically reduce your losses. A happy, comfortable hen is a productive hen, and this pad prioritizes her experience.
These pads are typically not compostable, as they often have a rubber or vinyl backing to hold their shape. The soft, textured surface can also trap more debris than a slick turf pad, requiring you to shake it out more frequently. It’s a tradeoff between hen comfort and your cleaning routine.
Precision Pet Excelsior Pads: Bulk Disposable Choice
This is the practical, budget-conscious version of the compostable pad. Precision Pet and similar brands offer excelsior pads in large, bulk packages that bring the per-unit cost way down. If you know you love the "use and toss" method, buying in bulk is the smartest way to do it.
The primary benefit is pure convenience at a low cost. There’s no washing, no scrubbing, and no decision-making. When a pad is dirty, you grab a fresh one from the stack. This system is ideal for someone who values their time over all else and wants the simplest possible chore list.
The obvious drawback is the ongoing cost and waste stream. Even if it’s cheap, you’re still paying for and disposing of a product continuously. This is a pure tradeoff: you are spending a little money to save a lot of time.
Incubator Warehouse Rubber Liner: Heavy-Duty Pick
For a truly indestructible option, look no further than a heavy-duty rubber liner. These are often just thick, textured rubber mats cut to size. They won’t tear, shred, or degrade, and will likely outlast the wood and wire of your mobile coop.
This is the definition of a buy-it-once solution. It’s completely waterproof, so you can scrub it with a stiff brush and sanitize it thoroughly without worrying about damaging it. It provides a stable, non-slip surface for the hens.
However, it offers zero comfort or absorbency. A broken egg on this liner creates a real mess that needs to be cleaned immediately. Many people find they need to add a small amount of straw or shavings on top to make it appealing to the hens, which slightly defeats the purpose of a standalone pad. It’s the right choice for someone who prioritizes brute-force durability above all else.
Rural365 Grass Pads: A Budget-Friendly Turf Mat
If you like the idea of a reusable turf pad but are put off by the high price of premium brands, the Rural365 pads are a great compromise. They offer the same core functionality—a cleanable, grass-like surface that allows debris to fall through—at a much more accessible price point.
For a small chicken tractor with only a few nest boxes, this is often more than sufficient. You still get the benefits of a reusable system without the significant upfront investment. It’s a great way to try out turf pads and see if they work for your system.
The tradeoff is almost always in the quality of the materials. The plastic backing may be thinner and the "grass" blades less dense, meaning they may not last as many seasons as a more expensive pad. But for the price, they provide excellent value and are a significant step up from having no liner at all.
Ultimately, the best nesting pad for your chicken tractor depends on your personal priorities. The decision comes down to a balance between the recurring cost of disposables, the time spent cleaning reusables, and your desire to incorporate waste into a composting system. Choose the option that best fits your budget, your schedule, and your farm’s ecosystem, and you’ll be rewarded with cleaner eggs and simpler chores.
