Any long term ( <1yr) sand users in run, have input?

[kellylaurin523]

Hi everyone!

I am brand new here, and only have had my girls for about a month. They are ready to move outside but I am having the hardest time deciding what to use in the run of my coop. I have 4 chickens, and live in Charleston, SC. It rains A LOT here, especially in the summer/fall. I have done a lot of research and am really leaning towards some sort of sand/gravel/wood mulch combo for the run. My only hesitation in the sand is that I have read over time it can get very stinky? I live downtown and am kind of close to my neighbors, so I want to avoid making them unhappy. Naturally I know it requires maintenance, but has anyone used a sand method for a while now and been sucessful? Pros/cons? Thank you!!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I live in the PNW, we ONLY got 43 inches of rain this past season.

I have had sand in my coop and covered run for a while (yes more than 1 year). When it rained the edges would get so stinky, it was terrible... regardless if you remove droppings daily, the poo juice is left behind.

I would go with deep litter or semi deep litter under a covered run. I aim to make it like the forest floor... spongy, soft, lots of micro organisms thriving to keep the ground in balance.... Bare dirt is a breeding ground for yuck. But invite the good microbes and bugs by adding pine needles, dry leaves, grass clippings, old hay or pine shavings from brooders or lay boxes (it's a constant renewal process for me)... the chooks enjoy scratching through to look for bugs... and NO more smell on the edges when it rains. I call mine "semi" deep litter because I still like to pick up any droppings I can see. Which if they aren't fresh are just little dirt or grass pancakes. It likely isn't needed (per many "DL" users), but if I know it's poo I'm removing it.

I really don't care for sand... good ideal, bad reality (to me). People who use kitty litter scoops aren't cleaning up after many birds. Once you scoop enough times the sand is essentially just dusty dried poo itself, and shaking a litter scooper means you either breath that stuff in or wear a mask to avoid doing so.

So basically I'm gonna suggest mulch it and skip the sand unless you have drainage issues.

Good luck!

 

[cmom]

I use pine shavings in my coops but the pens are all sand. I don't have any problem with smell. People who come by and want to see the birds often remark that it doesn't stink like they thought it would. I sell eggs and sometimes they will bring their people over and ask if they can see the birds. I do have poop pits under the roosts because most of the time when the birds are in their coops they are roosting.

 

[kellylaurin523]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I live in the PNW, we ONLY got 43 inches of rain this past season.

I have had sand in my coop and covered run for a while (yes more than 1 year). When it rained the edges would get so stinky, it was terrible... regardless if you remove droppings daily, the poo juice is left behind.

I would go with deep litter or semi deep litter under a covered run. I aim to make it like the forest floor... spongy, soft, lots of micro organisms thriving to keep the ground in balance.... Bare dirt is a breeding ground for yuck. But invite the good microbes and bugs by adding pine needles, dry leaves, grass clippings, old hay or pine shavings from brooders or lay boxes (it's a constant renewal process for me)... the chooks enjoy scratching through to look for bugs... and NO more smell on the edges when it rains. I call mine "semi" deep litter because I still like to pick up any droppings I can see. Which if they aren't fresh are just little dirt or grass pancakes. It likely isn't needed (per many "DL" users), but if I know it's poo I'm removing it.

I really don't care for sand... good ideal, bad reality (to me). People who use kitty litter scoops aren't cleaning up after many birds. Once you scoop enough times the sand is essentially just dusty dried poo itself, and shaking a litter scooper means you either breath that stuff in or wear a mask to avoid doing so.

So basically I'm gonna suggest mulch it and skip the sand unless you have drainage issues.

Good luck!

That is very helpful! I am not sure yet about drainage. I put the coop in a higher place in my yard, but I do live in the "lowcountry" so I am waiting to see what happens with a big rain. Do you think a gravel/sand base, with some more organic matter on top, as you suggested, would be a good option? Or would that still leave me with the stink factor? Such hard decisions to make! I think my boyfriend may kill be if I talk to him one more time about "poop maintenance"

 

[kellylaurin523]

I use pine shavings in my coops but the pens are all sand. I don't have any problem with smell. People who come by and want to see the birds often remark that it doesn't stink like they thought it would. I sell eggs and sometimes they will bring their people over and ask if they can see the birds. I do have poop pits under the roosts because most of the time when the birds are in their coops they are roosting.

How long have you been using the sand? Do you put anything on top of it? Sand seems like where I gravitate to as I worry about the rain where I am and the water retention. Thank you for your reply!

 

[cmom]

I had my first flock around 50 years ago. Here we have nothing but sand. Sand does not hold water. The water will percolate right through the sand.

 

[cmom]

The birds will scratch through it so you won't have a problem.

 

[Ohmyheart]

It's been barely a year here with sand. I love it I had 19 now up 27. We do clean it daily, and it's not an issue for us.

 

[cmom]

 

[kellylaurin523]

I had my first flock around 50 years ago. Here we have nothing but sand. Sand does not hold water. The water will percolate right through the sand.

Do you mind me asking what type of "sand" do you use? Ive read that play sand, or beach sand is too thin, and need something closer to gravel?. Many thanks in advance!