I have been using plastic nest boxes, to be specific Hagen Vision boxes, for over 3 years now and I love them! There are some precautions that need to be taken with any next box though, and with plastic even more so given that plastic typically has much less texture than wood which can easily cause splayed legs if not prevented.

In the past, I was simply roughing up the plastic liners with sand paper to give the chicks something to grip once they hatched, and it worked very well to prevent splayed legs. However, by doing this the liners need to be replaced much more often because it is hard to clean and disinfect them properly with the scratches in the plastic. 

For the above-mentioned reasons, I have changed how I prepare and use the vision box liners now. Doing it this way makes cleaning the liners even easier than before, and is so much less expensive than constantly having to replace the liners which is definitely an added plus for me!

In most stores, you can find paper towels that are half the size of a full one. These fit almost perfectly into a Hagen Vision liner and are what I like to use to absorb the chicks droppings and provide good grip for the chicks in addition to the shavings.

I start with a clean and un-sanded liner, one half-sized paper towel sheet and GSE water solution. GSE (Grape fruit seed extract) is an excellent and 100% natural way to kill and prevent bacteria growth, and since it is edible and completely safe for use around birds I take advantage of 

using it with my nest boxes to help prevent bacteria growth in addition to daily box cleanings. By adding 30 drops of GSE to 16oz of water, you will have a perfect disinfectant on hand for the boxes and anything else you would like to use it on. If you don't have it yet, get some! With how easy it is to keep a box clean and with so few safe disinfectants for birds, GSE is invaluable for me.

When to start using the liners mentioned below: During the laying and incubation process it is best to use only a small amount of shavings for the box. Most hens do not like shavings in the box, and until they are busy feeding and caring for the chicks most will toss them out.

You will not need to add the liner mentioned below until the chicks start to hatch and dropping follow. Adding the liner and extra shavings before they are needed will not do any good, and the hen will more than likely get in the habit of chewing up the towel and tossing out the shavings, which is not what we want! Once the chicks start hatching though, all of my hens will leave the liner and shavings alone when I follow the steps below.

Picture 1. Start with a clean and un-sanded plastic liner.

Picture 2. Place the paper towel on top so it covers the sides and corners of the liner.

Picture 3. Lightly mist the liner with the GSE solution so the whole sheet is easy to mold to the liner, with an extra preventative for bacteria growth from the GSE.

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Picture 4. Push the edges of the towel so they tuck nicely around the edges of the liner 

Picture 5. Now you can add the amount of shavings appropriate for the chicks age. When the chicks are just a few days old you will only need a small sprinkle of shavings daily as the towel will absorb most of the droppings, and it is good to start out with a small amount so the hen will be less likely to want to remove them. Because shavings absorb moisture, it is a good idea to give the shavings themselves a mist as well to prevent the developing eggs from drying out with each cleaning as well.

Picture 6. Now you are ready to place the eggs/chicks back on the liner. After making sure that the underside of the liner and the inside of the box are dry, you are then ready to place the liner back inside the box.

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Picture 7 and 8. As the chicks get a older you will need to increase the amount of shavings you put in the liner daily to keep the chicks and eggs clean.

Picture 9. When you place a paper towel on the bottom of the liner, it males cleaning the liners themselves so easy. None of the droppings get stuck to the liner itself, and all you have to do is lift the towel from one of the edges to easily remove the contents into the trash. A quick scrub with hot soapy water and disinfecting for the used liner, and it is ready for use again!

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A clean and well-used nest liner means clean eggs with very few addling, and clean healthy chicks as well!  Plastic boxes can be used safely with a few simple precautions, and I hope this article will help anyone using them to do so easily, and successfully.