Anyone use SAND in the run/coop

[mendozer]

What's the latest on this? I looked into sand couple years ago and had bad results (only supplier near me had super fine sand that compacted). Now I want to try it with coarser sand, but again I'm having trouble finding it. Some blogs say it's better because it's cleaner while others say it harbors bacteria and never really breaks down therefore never gets clean.

I'm confused!

I've used sweet PDZ in the coop before with shavings so thought I could use it on sand in the run. I could keep shavings in the coop though since it's a bit fluffier.

I live in Seattle and can't find river sand. Anyone around here find it?

Also, is it a one and done thing or do you refresh the sand? I'm not interested really in redoing it yearly. However, the mud puddles fill in their current dust bathing holes and they get really dirty with our winter rains.

I found this locally, but can't tell via pics what's best to river sand. I know coarser is better, but don't want gravel.

 

[matsayz]

Our coop is only 3x6 and I think I used 3 bags of "coarse/multi-purpose" sand. I found it in the construction/concrete section at Lowe's/Home Depot. It came in decent size bags. I don't plan on "replacing" at all really, more-so just adding as needed kind of like the kitty litter box (although that gets emptied every couple of weeks).

I don't know about the bacteria level stuff, they seem healthy and I think it all stays pretty dry. My chickens are only up there in the coop for sleeping and laying. If one of them makes a mess (you know the kind of mess) I usually leave the coop doors open to air it our or mix the sand around with the surrounding sand.

Like I said, this is only in the coop. The Run is dirt, shavings (from the coop as they knocked it down the stairs), some leftover bits of straw from the early days. I usually take a bunch of shovel loads out of the run and into the garden beds then a bunch of shovel loads of a dirt pile near the coop and toss it in the run. They seem to turn it all over pretty dang quick.

I think the sand is better than the shavings for me.

Lowe's All Purpose sand https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sakrete-60-lbs-All-Purpose-Sand/3375786

Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-50-lb-All-Purpose-Sand-115251/100318450



*No chicken opinions were taken during this trial period...*

 

[mendozer]

so why did you stay with dirt for the run? vs sand anyways

 

[matsayz]

so why did you stay with dirt for the run? vs sand anyways

Right now dirt seems to work fine for the run. We'll see how it goes this Spring when it rains. Right now we have some plastic sheeting stuff on top to stop the snow.

 

[lynnehd]

so why did you stay with dirt for the run? vs sand anyways

Right now dirt seems to work fine for the run. We'll see how it goes this Spring when it rains. Right now we have some plastic sheeting stuff on top to stop the snow.

I have construction sand in my small raised coop (mixed with Stall Dry) and the same in my covered attached run. In the winter, the lower sides of the run are covered with plastic. They love to dust bath in there.
Since you replenish the dirt, @matsayz , and the run is covered, I think dirt or sand would work fine in this situation.
Now in my set up, there is also a 'secondary' outdoor uncovered run, connected by a chicken tunnel (

it's fun to watch them run through it). In this area, and in our PNW climate, sand would not work, so I use wood chips/leaves about 6+ inches deep, which works extremely well.

 

[heresbigmike]

Hi Chicken aficionados ! Sand !? You're making yourself a lot of work !, and your not being very friendly to your environment ! Composted sand is excellent for growing root vegetables !, although after a couple of years you'll find that your soil is no longer loamy and rich !If your growing potatoes or carrots, good for you ! , although the richness of the soil becomes dependent on the chicken manure , no more loaminess ,no more natural decomposition of VARRIED organic matter !Leave the sand on the beach ! (Wild chickens don't hang out at the beach), as I do , . At one point In my chicken adventure I used any comestible oil in my chain saws and used all the gathered chips for the chicken house. A 1/4 inch mesh as a floor ,over 1"x6" framed floor, on 6" centers allows walking on it to sweep everything into the large underside retractable trays from the backside ! The chips are buried or composted , I throw in a lot of worms from my garden soil , so they can do what they do best! Voila ! Clean-up in the shack Is 5 minutes with a good street sweeping broom! New wood chips, 5 minutes. Pull out the trays and shovel into wheelbarrow and deliver, Max. 1 hour, once a week , And that's good soil after composting ! Worms will tell you, they need organic matter ! You will NEVER find worms or chickens on the beach !Chickens also love worms, so If you let them wander in your garden after you water in the evening, they won't bother any vegies, their looking for treats ! Worms, slugs, any kind of beetle or bug, they will rid your garden of aphids and anything else that is detrimental to you !If your soil Is weak, they will eat the plants ! All My Best Regards, Michael.

 

[Alwaysblessed03]

It sounds like a combination of the following may be the best bet as a coop/run floor?
1. Pond liner to cover grass once chickens have eaten it all
2. Course concrete gravel (maybe 2 inches deep)
3. Sand on top of gravel (maybe 4 inches deep)

Can anyone comment on this if you have layered or combined gravel with sand, or laid sand on top of gravel. Good idea, or no?

 

[aart]

It sounds like a combination of the following may be the best bet as a coop/run floor?
1. Pond liner to cover grass once chickens have eaten it all
2. Course concrete gravel (maybe 2 inches deep)
3. Sand on top of gravel (maybe 4 inches deep)

Can anyone comment on this if you have layered or combined gravel with sand, or laid sand on top of gravel. Good idea, or no?

Answered here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/run-ground-question.1278149/page-3#post-20580984

 

[Zeni]

I am going to use sand in my run. Can I put sand in my coop? I have an expensive, pre fab, cheaply made chicken coop, and I am not sure the tray over the roosting bars will be sturdy enough to hold sand. Any thoughts?

 

[The Lazy L]

It sounds like a combination of the following may be the best bet as a coop/run floor?
1. Pond liner to cover grass once chickens have eaten it all
2. Course concrete gravel (maybe 2 inches deep)
3. Sand on top of gravel (maybe 4 inches deep)

Can anyone comment on this if you have layered or combined gravel with sand, or laid sand on top of gravel. Good idea, or no?

Run. IMHO it wouldn't be to long before the chickens would have the sand mixed into the gravel by digging depressions for dirt baths.