Are your Chickens Happy with Sand in Runs?

[gabbyscritters]

Several of our runs are rocky and I am thinking of adding a thick layer of sand on top of the ground.
The coops are inside a old dairy barn. The ground where the runs are built is on a rock base, some soil, some larger rocks mostly burried in the ground and little rocks that just poop up from the ground, especially after the spring thaw.

We have been having problems with bumblefoot. We scraped up areas that had a lot of the small rocks, many were jagged.

So are you & your chickens happy with a sand base run?

 

[thejohnsie]

I am a newbie (since April) so take this for what its worth. We have sand in our run and I think it works great. We were having a problem with mice digging into the run and then getting into the coop. The run was also muddy and messy. So we covered the bottom of the run with hardware cloth (like we should have in the first place) and then put sand in it. Now when mice try to dig up into the run, the sand just fills the holes in while they are still digging (like at the beach). The chickens were afraid of it at first

but I threw some mealworms in and they went to town. The sand seems to stay cool even when its really hot and they also dust bathe in it. To me, it also looks neater and cleaner.

 

[chfite]

My chickens dig in the sand all the time. It makes for good dust bathing. The digging turns the poop under, so there are fewer flies. The sand drains well, so any water is gone quickly.

I used river sand which has random sizes of grains, more rounded than some sand. It must be cool to the touch in its own right, because the dogs have taken to lying on the spilled sand next to the run.

I don't have rocks such as yours here, but I would be inclined to think that the sand would help cushion the chickens' feet from the sharp edges.

I got 1/2 yard for $30, but I have access to a pickup truck.

Chris

 

[Arielle]

Do some research on sand temps. I've been to the beach plenty of times, and the sand was HOT is the full sun. Just a factor to consider. Perhaps ad sand and a cover or high bushes on the south side.

 

[Katiedid]

We live in sand and haven't had problems. We do put tarp over the majority of the run in summer and run sprinklers to cool off their feet, but this is a factor of 100F temps, not the material they are walking on. In the spring, fall and winter the runs are uncovered and the chickens seem fine.

 

[dancingflower68]

I'm using sand at the moment, and I'm torn on it,although my chickens seem ok. It just seems so barren. Also, I add DE to keep the fly population down, and I worry about it getting into their repiratory system and irritating them. When they bath or run around, dust clouds appear and I hate that! It IS easy to clean I must say, I just use a small rake to rake a pile, then a kitty litter scoop to clean the piles, I do this every other day to every day, If I'm feeling ambitious. Then I go in to wash my feet, because by then I'm covered in a film of dust

. I'm thinking about adding some chopped straw if I can figure out where to buy it!! I am concerned it will get damp when I run the misters though, so I haven't rushed out to find some, just living with the sand for now!! HTH!

 

[sonomachx]

We have sand in the run. I think it would be great IF we had done it correctly. The run used to be really rocky and we put the sand directly on top of the rocks. Unfortunately, all the digging done by the hens has brought the rocks right back to the surface. Now I can't simply rake the sand out since there are so many rocks making the run hard to keep clean. Eventually, I plan to dig out all the sand, lay either wire or landscape fabric down on top of the rocks, and replace it with new sand.

 

[dancingflower68]

We have sand in the run. I think it would be great IF we had done it correctly. The run used to be really rocky and we put the sand directly on top of the rocks. Unfortunately, all the digging done by the hens has brought the rocks right back to the surface. Now I can't simply rake the sand out since there are so many rocks making the run hard to keep clean. Eventually, I plan to dig out all the sand, lay either wire or landscape fabric down on top of the rocks, and replace it with new sand.

It's amazing what comes to the surface!! I'm always exclaiming..."What have you dug up now??!"