Sand isn't great in a brooder as the chicks have looser poops that hens and also seem to dump the water so often. I use old bath towels that I change daily. They are absorbent, non eatable, proved good traction and can be sanitized in the washing machine and reused.
We have used 'Stall Dry', a brand of bagged volcanic sand, on our coop floor for a few years. Easy clean up with a cat litter scoop, no odor and there are far less flies that with any other bedding we have ever used. We don't keep any food or water in the coop though. If did I need to have an indoor waterer I would but it in a wall mounted or otherwise spill proof container.
We have used 'Stall Dry', a brand of bagged volcanic sand, on our coop floor for a few years. Easy clean up with a cat litter scoop, no odor and there are far less flies that with any other bedding we have ever used. We don't keep any food or water in the coop though. If did I need to have an indoor waterer I would but it in a wall mounted or otherwise spill proof container.