bedding for coop?

[jcskowronek]

I had chickens a few years ago and heard of people using sand as bedding in the coop. I always used straw but I am intrigued by the idea of sand. Is it okay for the chickens health-wise? Does anyone use it? What is your experience?

 

[Wezdin]

Lots of people use sand and like it. I don't but it has no health drawbacks. Check this article out, it might give some insight.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-sand-in-your-chicken-coop.47795/

 

[jcskowronek]

Lots of people use sand and like it. I don't but it has no health drawbacks. Check this article out, it might give some insight.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-sand-in-your-chicken-coop.47795/

Thank you! That is super helpful!!

 

[paintedChix]

I live in hot, humid NC that also gets ice, snow and plenty (sometimes wayayayay too much) of rain.

Here sand is NASTY, stinks when it's humid & wet outside after it's been in a run (& sometimes in the coop) for a while, and is very difficult to replace when you want to change it out (well, guess that wouldn't be hard if you were 1/2 my age).

However having your run/coop already set up on sand, you can easily enough change it to become a loamy, usable compost by utilizing DLM and not letting bare spots of sand show up...

 

[MADREdeGallinas]

I have used bank sand in my coop. I do like it. It is easy to get in there and clean, so long as the sand is DRY. I live in southeast TX. And just like @paintedChix stated, the sand does get nasty on rainy days. It retains the water too. We have humity here almost every day which also does not help on those rainy days. Therefore i am researching for other alternatives.