calcium carbonate (oolitic aragonite) sand

[llcardinale]

Hello All,
First time chicken owner here. Does anyone have any feedback regarding the use of oolitic aragonite sand for the coop, run or dust bath? It is fine, but made of pure calcium carbonate, is dust free, silica free, quarts free, impurity free. Though fine sand I understand is not good for young chicks or chickens because they may eat it and become impacted, how about for mature chickens? Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hello All,
First time chicken owner here. Does anyone have any feedback regarding the use of oolitic aragonite sand for the coop, run or dust bath? It is fine, but made of pure calcium carbonate, is dust free, silica free, quarts free, impurity free. Though fine sand I understand is not good for young chicks or chickens because they may eat it and become impacted, how about for mature chickens? Any feedback would be appreciated.

What type of climate do you live in? Many BYC members who live in dry, arid climates report great results with sand. But many who lived in more temperate, rainy, humid climates write that it gets smelly and awful. Also, it can freeze in winter.

Sounds wonderful as one of the ingredients for a dust bath, in any climate!

 

[llcardinale]

What type of climate do you live in? Many BYC members who live in dry, arid climates report great results with sand. But many who lived in more temperate, rainy, humid climates write that it gets smelly and awful. Also, it can freeze in winter.

Sounds wonderful as one of the ingredients for a dust bath, in any climate!

Thank you for your response. I live on the coast in Northern California. It's relatively humid with a pretty constant temperature of around 58f during the day, and 50f at night. I was mostly concerned about health issues, but in this regard I guess I'll just wait until they're around 6 months or so. I think maybe I will put some in their dust bath that's in the sun but not under or in the coop where it's not likely to dry out. Thanks again.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thank you for your response. I live on the coast in Northern California. It's relatively humid with a pretty constant temperature of around 58f during the day, and 50f at night. I was mostly concerned about health issues, but in this regard I guess I'll just wait until they're around 6 months or so. I think maybe I will put some in their dust bath that's in the sun but not under or in the coop where it's not likely to dry out. Thanks again.

I have one of those oddball Nestera coops, so just pine flakes in the removable poop trays for coop bedding.

For the run itself, I do the deep litter method, essentially re-creating a forest floor. A jumble of bark chips, dead leaves, shredded litter, pine straw (dead pine needles), some grass clippings, and the pine flakes and poop from the coop. The chickens obligingly dig and spread and integrate all this mess, the litter self-composts, and it’s soft and fluffy on their scaly little feet. If you’re in coastal redwood country, think of paths and trails among the trees.

 

[llcardinale]

Thank you for that info--sounds like good advice. I've had to dig up several inches of compacted damp mulch in the 300 square feet of run space (--because it never dries out, not great for chickens), so I've had to then replace it with several inches of composted top soil to cover the roots I uncovered. I have redwood chips, pounds of chicken-loving herbs, pounds of granite grit and oolitic aragonite sand, the latter of which I have purchased several pounds from Home Depot under the name Baha Play Sand. I'm surrounded by pine trees so I'll add some pine needles as well. Thanks again.