chicken run VERY dusty during winter

[lizzykate]

Hello! I'm a relatively new chicken momma. We got 4 Brahmas July 2024 and then 3 Black Australorps in March 2025.

We have a 10' x 20' run which is connected to their coop and we use sand. For our first winter last year we covered the run in plastic and that worked well. It kept the temperature inside the run a good 10-20 degrees warmer than the outside, which was good because we had some pretty frigid weather last winter. We don't use any heat source-just insulate well and they seemed to do just fine.

I don't remember it being such an issue last year but the dust in the run seems a bit out of control this year. My husband thinks I'm overreacting but I know respiratory issues can be a thing and I don't want to overlook something I could be doing to make it better. I've read that wetting the sand is a good way to reduce dust and I did that in the summer heat and I think it also helped cool them down. I don't want to do that in the winter though because moisture can lead to frostbite.

Is there a different type of bedding that I can put on TOP of the sand to keep the dust down? I went ahead and put some straw on top but I'm not sure that did much. I only put down what we had so it may not have been enough. We're happy with the sand in the summer but I'm not sure it's right for winter. I've read about hemp bedding but I'd like to get some feedback from seasoned experts!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

I presume you're in a state like Wisconsin? Hot summers and very cold winters? We've been happy with horse bedding pellets for nearly a decade now. They keep the humidity and ammonia in the coop way down as it absorbs the poop. When it gets wet, it turns to dustless sawdust. You could try cover your sand with those, but then in spring, they might be a bit of a mess to get back out, or you could just leave them there. We only change ours once a year.

 

[lizzykate]

Hi,

I presume you're in a state like Wisconsin? Hot summers and very cold winters? We've been happy with horse bedding pellets for nearly a decade now. They keep the humidity and ammonia in the coop way down as it absorbs the poop. When it gets wet, it turns to dustless sawdust. You could try cover your sand with those, but then in spring, they might be a bit of a mess to get back out, or you could just leave them there. We only change ours once a year.

Actually we're in VA. Last year though we got some pretty cold days and wind with it. This is the first time we've experienced molting. It's so weird they wait until the cold to get naked! It seems it should be the summer when they molt!

I use the pine pellets for cat litter and I love it for that. It does have an element of dust though so I'm not sure if that would improve what I already have. I've also read things about pine shavings not being good. My husband had some and put them in the nesting box and they appeared to be eating them so we took them out. Not sure if it's a pine thing or just the shape and texture of the shavings.

We got a load of sand initially and then realized we wanted it deeper so we added to it. Eventually we'll need to add more as some gets taken up when we poop scoop.

 

[Grondel Farm]

Actually we're in VA. Last year though we got some pretty cold days and wind with it. This is the first time we've experienced molting. It's so weird they wait until the cold to get naked! It seems it should be the summer when they molt!

I use the pine pellets for cat litter and I love it for that. It does have an element of dust though so I'm not sure if that would improve what I already have. I've also read things about pine shavings not being good. My husband had some and put them in the nesting box and they appeared to be eating them so we took them out. Not sure if it's a pine thing or just the shape and texture of the shavings.

We got a load of sand initially and then realized we wanted it deeper so we added to it. Eventually we'll need to add more as some gets taken up when we poop scoop.

I have used hemp hurd in my coop since bringing in my chicks in April...love it, stays dry, stay clean and easy to sift poop, not dusty, doesn't have to be cleaned out daily or even monthly. Lasts for months with just added to on top (the deep litter method). More costly up front than most other materials. But fefinitely not in the end.
So should be great choice for your dusty run...this gave me the idea to do the same in my run that the chickens have scratched to bare dirt - nothing but roots left,! No roof.....So l will see how it does during rainy weather. It will definitely provide more interest in scratching for their treats...Good Luck

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Actually we're in VA. Last year though we got some pretty cold days and wind with it. This is the first time we've experienced molting. It's so weird they wait until the cold to get naked! It seems it should be the summer when they molt!

I use the pine pellets for cat litter and I love it for that. It does have an element of dust though so I'm not sure if that would improve what I already have. I've also read things about pine shavings not being good. My husband had some and put them in the nesting box and they appeared to be eating them so we took them out. Not sure if it's a pine thing or just the shape and texture of the shavings.

We got a load of sand initially and then realized we wanted it deeper so we added to it. Eventually we'll need to add more as some gets taken up when we poop scoop.

I use pine shavings in the tiny Nestera coop, and I also mix it with other stuff for the run deep litter bedding.

When I first introduced it, they pecked at it a bit (how chickens identify new things, like a baby or toddler gumming everything in sight), but they didn’t bother after the first day or so, and I doubt that they ever actually consumed it.

I like the smell of it.

 

[Spiridon]

I used pine pellets one winter when we had to bring the chickens into the garage during a cold snap. No dust but they were only in there for a week. I refused to use the pine shaving in the garage again, our brooder had made the whole garage dusty with those.

 

[nuthatched]

Is your run completely enclosed or is there top ventilation?

 

[lizzykate]

Is your run completely enclosed or is there top ventilation?

It's mostly all enclosed now with a heavy duty tarp on the roof and plastic around the walls. We left a small area uncovered above the door.

 

[nuthatched]

It's mostly all enclosed now with a heavy duty tarp on the roof and plastic around the walls. We left a small area uncovered above the door.

Open more ventilation up atleast along one whole side.