Anyone use SAND in the run/coop

[ShrekDawg]

I was thinking of a covered run but you're right, it may not be practical to cover the whole run. I hadn't really thought of that. Perhaps I will only cover half of the run or something.

And thank you for the great information! Seems like we'd need a lot of sand then but we have a sand and gravel place nearby.

Although I found out about the deep litter thing after I read this and that seem great too and we certainly have plently of woods to take material from. What do you think is better, sand or the deep litter thing with leaves and compost type thing in the run?

 

[lynnehd]

I was thinking of a covered run but you're right, it may not be practical to cover the whole run. I hadn't really thought of that. Perhaps I will only cover half of the run or something.

And thank you for the great information! Seems like we'd need a lot of sand then but we have a sand and gravel place nearby.

Although I found out about the deep litter thing after I read this and that seem great too and we certainly have plently of woods to take material from. What do you think is better, sand or the deep litter thing with leaves and compost type thing in the run?

I have sand in my covered run, in a rainy winter climate. I do cover the lower sides with plastic in the winter to block rain and wind, and it works.

I fully agree with covering at least 1/2 of your run in your climate, perhaps you can cover the rest at a later date, if needed.
If you're run is in the shade, make it a clear/smoke covering. If it gets sun in the summer, make it a light colored solid roofing material.

Personally, with a partially open run, I'd use an informal deep litter method. Just make it like the forest floor in there!
Start with some wood chips from a tree company. They make a great base. 4" plus if possible!
(You could even add some of these to your current run, now. They are even sturdier than pine shavings.)
Then throw in leaves, pine needles, anything. Get it to at least 6". The chickens will stir it all up.

I have a secondary uncovered run for my chickens for daytime only. This is what I do in there, and while it gets wet, there is no mud. And believe me, there IS mud under there, but the debri keeps it covered up.

The girls working a pile of leaves

 

[ShrekDawg]

I have sand in my covered run, in a rainy winter climate. I do cover the lower sides with plastic in the winter to block rain and wind, and it works. I fully agree with covering at least 1/2 of your run in your climate, perhaps you can cover the rest at a later date, if needed. If you're run is in the shade, make it a clear/smoke covering. If it gets sun in the summer, make it a light colored solid roofing material. Personally, with a partially open run, I'd use an informal deep litter method. Just make it like the forest floor in there! Start with some wood chips from a tree company. They make a great base. 4" plus if possible! (You could even add some of these to your current run, now. They are even sturdier than pine shavings.) Then throw in leaves, pine needles, anything. Get it to at least 6". The chickens will stir it all up. I have a secondary uncovered run for my chickens for daytime only. This is what I do in there, and while it gets wet, there is no mud. And believe me, there IS mud under there, but the debri keeps it covered up. The girls working a pile of leaves

Thank you so much for all the advice and help! And you're definitely right that we could always cover the rest later! I think I'll cover half for now. It's by some trees but it's in the sun I think because the trees are so tall and it's not directly behind the house or anything. Though the lower end is shaded. That deep litter thing definitely seems like it would be a great option! I'm still a little nervous using it inside the actual coop but I might give it a try! And even if not, it would work great in the run I think! And we have almosy 3 acres but only maybe half is the yard, the rest is woods plus the woods shared with neighbors so there's definitely a lot of material to grab! I'll have to see if I can find some wood chips and if not, maybe I could rent a chipper for a day or something, certainly enough trees! Lol Thanks again for the help

 

[lynnehd]

Thank you so much for all the advice and help! And you're definitely right that we could always cover the rest later! I think I'll cover half for now. It's by some trees but it's in the sun I think because the trees are so tall and it's not directly behind the house or anything. Though the lower end is shaded.

That deep litter thing definitely seems like it would be a great option! I'm still a little nervous using it inside the actual coop but I might give it a try! And even if not, it would work great in the run I think! And we have almosy 3 acres but only maybe half is the yard, the rest is woods plus the woods shared with neighbors so there's definitely a lot of material to grab! I'll have to see if I can find some wood chips and if not, maybe I could rent a chipper for a day or something, certainly enough trees! Lol

Thanks again for the help

Sure! I don't use DL in my coop; it is raised and not very big, and they don't spend any time there during the day, so it wouldn't work too well.
I use Stall Dry from the feed store in my coop, and just scoop poop from the poop board, etc., each am. Takes about 3 minutes.

If you have at least a partially covered run, with at least a couple of sides covered in your climate, I bet your chickens will be outside more than not, even if it is snowing.
Mine absolutely love the forest floor/deep litter concept. They love finding bugs.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sure! I don't use DL in my coop; it is raised and not very big, and they don't spend any time there during the day, so it wouldn't work too well.
I use Stall Dry from the feed store in my coop, and just scoop poop from the poop board, etc., each am. Takes about 3 minutes.

If you have at least a partially covered run, with at least a couple of sides covered in your climate, I bet your chickens will be outside more than not, even if it is snowing.
Mine absolutely love the forest floor/deep litter concept. They love finding bugs.

Yeah, that was sort of my concern with it, I wasn't sure if it would work with a raised coop or not. I may just keep the pine shavings or go sand in the new coop and add a droppings board, I like that idea. I'll have to get some Stall Dry.

That's what I'm hoping! They're already out more even with just the pine shavings on the ground instead of mud so I'm hoping that with a covered run, evem partially, and covered sides so it's dry they'll want to,stay out and not hide away.

I also think this seems like a great concept, especially since I'm still a little nervous about letting them free range so they can still have a similar experience to free ranging without having to be completely loose.

 

[lynnehd]

Yeah, that was sort of my concern with it, I wasn't sure if it would work with a raised coop or not. I may just keep the pine shavings or go sand in the new coop and add a droppings board, I like that idea. I'll have to get some Stall Dry.

That's what I'm hoping! They're already out more even with just the pine shavings on the ground instead of mud so I'm hoping that with a covered run, evem partially, and covered sides so it's dry they'll want to,stay out and not hide away.

I also think this seems like a great concept, especially since I'm still a little nervous about letting them free range so they can still have a similar experience to free ranging without having to be completely loose.

Yes, poop boards are great! My nest boxes are at coop floor level below the poop board.

If you use sand in the coop itself, mix with Sweet PDZ or use Stall Dry. Both absorb ammonia and dessicate the poop.
Pine shavings on the coop floor and Sweet PDZ or Stall Dry on the poop board would work too.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes, poop boards are great! My nest boxes are at coop floor level below the poop board.

If you use sand in the coop itself, mix with Sweet PDZ or use Stall Dry. Both absorb ammonia and dessicate the poop.
Pine shavings on the coop floor and Sweet PDZ or Stall Dry on the poop board would work too.

Thanks for the tips! I'll have to get those! Although I did recently buy DE. Are they similar or completely different?

 

[lynnehd]

Thanks for the tips! I'll have to get those! Although I did recently buy DE. Are they similar or completely different?

Food grade DE is a bit different- added to soil or dust bathing areas to hopefully ward off mites, lice.
Sweet PDZ AND Stall Dry are more granular, and used as a bedding to absorb ammonia from poop. I believe Stall Dry has a small amount of DE in it.
BTW, I have Stall Dry also in the area under my raised coop, and they dust bathe in it daily.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Food grade DE is a bit different- added to soil or dust bathing areas to hopefully ward off mites, lice.
Sweet PDZ AND Stall Dry are more granular, and used as a bedding to absorb ammonia from poop. I believe Stall Dry has a small amount of DE in it.
BTW, I have Stall Dry also in the area under my raised coop, and they dust bathe in it daily.

Ahhh okay, that makes more sense then. Thanks for the info! So would they have it at most feed stores then or is it something I'd have to find somewhere?

 

[lynnehd]

Ahhh okay, that makes more sense then. Thanks for the info! So would they have it at most feed stores then or is it something I'd have to find somewhere?

They have both at my feed store, check yours out. Either one would be fine.