Anyone use SAND in the run/coop

[ShrekDawg]

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

Will,do! Thanks!

 

[lynnehd]

Will,do! Thanks!

Oh, and on Amazon, lol

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Oh, and on Amazon, lol

Good luck and keep us posted! 

Amazon is dangerous lol

And thanks and will do

 

[kgb6days]

I've read through most of all posts, and I must say I'm convinced sand is the way to go. Our girls are 7 weeks old and have been in the coop/run for the past 3 weeks. I've noticed there is beginning to be a bit of an odor. The run floor right now is grass/dirt (where they've done away with the grass). The run has a roof that is mostly clear and it it protected by woods due west so they get sun in the morning and by 1pm they have good shade. It sounds like sand will allow easier cleaning, less odor and will allow plenty of dust bathing for the chicks. Now to just get some eggs!

 

[kschicks2013]

Great choice. It works great and easy to clean. I would suggest shavings in the nest boxes. You can make a big chicken poop cleaner with a plastic pitch fork and chicken wire small enough for sand to sift through but not the poop then you scoop it up like kitty litter. It works like a charm

 

[Hholly]

I have sand in my coop but not in the run area. I think it's great anywhere that won't get too wet. But odor problems might occur where it would get rained on. Unless you are able to scoop every bit of poop. I scoop the sand in the coop daily or near daily. My run is almost a deep litter situation. They quickly killed the grass in the run and I started adding Straw to the run to cover the mud. It's working very well and I will soon strip out the old Straw and add new. I will need to replace some of the sand at some point as some gets picked up during scooping. I have not had a smell issue to speak of. I also use poop trays under the roosts. So that helps too.

 

[kschicks2013]

What do you scoop it up with? I replaced my sand 1 year later. Actually just added a little more. If you use something like a kitty litter scoop only bigger the sand will sift through and only the poop will stay and you can throw it in the garden

 

[lynnehd]

Agree with the above.

*poop tray under the roost-clean coop daily with kitty litter scoop.
*covered run, so I have sand in raised coop floor and run. In the winter I cover the run sides with clear plastic about 2/3 of the way up. This keeps the run dry.
*sand is a bit cold in the winter, but in the PNW, this is not a big issue. I have some roosts in the run for them to stand on, if needed.
*sand is COOL in the summer, this is great, since being too hot is their greatest problem.

 

[kschicks2013]

Yes me too. My run is fully covered and tapped on sides. I put shavings on top of sand in run in winter. I love the sand so easy to keep clean and the poop dries up immediately.

 

[tjparker60]

I'm new at this so please bear with me and my stupid questions. We are building our coop now and plan to use sand. If I give them treats or throw in crickets or worms do I just throw it on top of the sand or do I put it in feed containers for them?