Adding sand to dirt in Chicken Run?

[winifredbee]

We're expanding our school's chicken run tomorrow. When we add new soil should we add sand? If so how much? I hear it helps with mites when they take a dirt bath.

 

[Michael OShay]

We're expanding our school's chicken run tomorrow. When we add new soil should we add sand? If so how much? I hear it helps with mites when they take a dirt bath.

If you add sand, do not use fine sand such as playground sand or beach sand as it can impact a chicken's crop. Instead use a coarse river sand with varying sized pebbles in it. Actually, one of the best bathing materials for dirt mites is a flat box with wood ash in it.