Can someone tell me about sand in the duck run?

[NYRIR]

I wanted to know how much sand it would take for an 18x25 duck run to have it deep enough to be successful.How many inches deep should it be?

Also, how does the sand work through winter? Does ice build up on it?

Thanks for any help you can give me...

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I'd want at least 6 inches
Ice will form on it if it's exposed, just as it will on any other ground surface, but it would have to be saturated first

Your area is 450 sq ft, so it will take 8-9 cubic yards of sand to cover it 6 inches deep, or roughly 10 tons

http://www.donsgrass.com/calculation_12.html

 

[NYRIR]

Wow, thanks ...it would be exposed...the run only has chicken wire along the top to keep the pesky hawks and eagles in the area out.Do you think that would make it more difficult being exposed? I figured if it gets covered in ice like it can now, I just put sand on the ice to help them get traction.Think that would work?