Anyone use SAND in the run/coop

[northwoodsice]

My coop is 40 ft long by 12 ft wide, I raise 50 barred rocks each year. I would really like to convert to sand, how often do I need to completely change the sand? Also what is a good depth of sand?

Thanks

 

[trinityfly]

I have used a coarse sand called decomposed granite. It is free here abouts as the gov dredges it out of the river to deepen holes for adult salmon. I just drive up with a pick up or a trailer and carry it away. Win win! It works great in the chicken house and the run. I spot clean and bit by bit the sand goes away, then I add more. As I spill plenty of rice hulls and pine shavings this is always mixed in with the DG. It is these organics that dehydrate the poo.......no smell. Been doing this for years. Tried pea gravel but it moves out way to fast.

 

[lizzy06019]

We just finished our coop and run and used playground sand for our run. It's about 6-8 inches deep throughout the run and it REALLY keeps down the muddy feet. They've only used the run for about a week BUT we've had terrible rain here and no one had any issue with yuck feet. I don't now how often you need to add to the sand or maintain it as we haven't gotten that far yet. I've read it's super simple and convenient

 

[sattoritx]

Thank you, thank you! you guys are awesome and so smart too, you asked all the questions i was wondering about pertaining to sand. especially about hot chicken feet.
This is our first coop and I really wish I wasn't renting my house cause I really like sand now.

I saw DE can be used in pine bedding in coop, could you put some DE in the sand in the run? How would doing that hurt their foraging for bugs? Stupid question? forgive me

 

[R&A-Goros Harem]

Quote:
Well, I'm no expert but in general sand is finely ground rock & mineral deposits, which rocks & which minerals of course vary by location. If you take for example coastal sand, which would be full of bits & pieces of coral & shells; where my inland sand is mostly comprised of quartz, clay, granite etc...sand from Hawaii where the land is formed by volcanic eruption is largely made from exactly that, and tends to be darker & richer in minerals.

Sandblasting used to and still sometimes uses/creates very fine silica dust/powder which is a hazard to your health if inhaled. Course sand has such large particulate that it isn't easily floating around in the air bothering anyone's lungs.

We all live in different places with a variety of natural resources available, right down to sand content.

hopefully I didn't get much or too much wrong here, again, no expert.

I am really loving the ideas here about sand, and it sounds better than the deep bed wood chip system, but I can only find masonry sand where I live. Sounds stupid, but when I called the 2 quarrys I have near me they didn't know what "course sand" or "construction sand" are. Masonry sand is high silica, and that leads me to my next thought - if sand is so bad if high in silica, then why is DE so highly recomended here? isn't DE all silica? Some one please explain for this dumb redneck just doesn't get it!

 

[DawnSuiter]

Try asking for River Sand... I have added that to my BYC info page on the sand.
I still LOVE LOVE LOVE my sand 2 years later. In fact.. just yesterday I moved some adults from a straw bedded pen in the garden to their more permanent sand floored coop and they just love love love it too! Went crazy for hours.. you can see right away how much it is loved.

DE is the fossilized shell of a sea "creature".. a diatom. Teeny tiny little shells.

Hope that helps!

 

[chickerdoodle]

Our sand came straight out of the Columbia River and they called it "mason's sand." I was shocked but they said it changed a few years ago due to the concerns over health issues. So I'd ask where they get their sand before worrying too much

 

[jdix]

My run is either going to be 25'x47' or 20'x47' and I've only got 4 chicks. I was hoping to let them forage as much as possible for bugs, grass, etc. If I put sand down in their run will this prevent them from foraging? How deep should I go? 2-3"? It sounds great but with such a large run and a small number of birds I'm hoping poop/smell won't be a concern. The area where its going is fairly gravely soil so it dries nicely but if they mud it all up... Maybe I'll just let them destroy it first and see how it looks/smells then I could always just sand a section of it. Maybe I'll start with the section under the tin roof first. Sorry brainstorming aloud.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
You may certainly try that since its a decent sized area. You might be surprised what 4 hens can do to a garden

If you begin to notice a problem or if the area tends to hold water when it rains then go with sand. They can forage in sand its just another medium. You can add goodies in it such as scratch , worms, whatever won't get too lost until they see it and go for it. I live in Oregon and it rains a lot in the winter hence the completely roofed and sand run.

 

[hipeatall]

I just recently switched one of my runs over to sand... so far so good

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Also, I have one of these Pan & Rake... and it works great for poop removal...
http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-ca...es/advance-reg-large-pan-and-rake-set-2426252