You can purchase it from Landscaping, Construction, or Building Supply companies or stores. I currently get mine from a Landscaping store a short drive from my home.
I personally prefer coarse river sand (not fine beach sand which can impact a chick's crop) for my coops/runs as coarse sand desiccates droppings, does not retain moisture, does not decay or degrade inside the coop, has superior drainage (if water spills), is inexpensive, is Eco-friendly, can be...
LOL! For the most part, no. Although there are always new things to learn about chickens (I'm still learning). :o) Also, your goals can change over the years. In my earlier years, I was more aesthetic orientated and wanted some colorful and fancy breeds in my flock. In my later years I have...
If I could start over, I wouldn't do anything different than what I'm doing now. After 50 years of raising chickens, I have figured out exactly what I like and what works well for me. :o)