Chickens don't like sand?!?!?!

[melloladies]

Just moved my girls into their new coop- they sure are stylin now! Overnight we replaced the standard dirt that was our lawn with a fresh clean layer of SAND!!! Well- the natives are protesting... it took forever and a loud chorus to get them down the ramp. They are being the honkiest honkers EVER!!!!! Shhhh!!! Has anyone else had this problem? I hope they get used to it quickly because my husband has already refused to shovel the sand back out. Not that I blame him

 

[dsqard]

Chickens like most animals do not like change. Give them a couple of days to get used to the sand and all will be well. Sometimes you have to laugh at what will freak them out. My horses get scared if I hang their blankets over the stall wall since they are not "supposed" to be there.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Quote:
My girls were raised in a sand run and have no problem. So it's not the sand itself, just that it's new.

 

[churchx3]

When I first put sand in my coop and run the chickens noticed the "color" difference and therefore were hesitant. Yours will be fine shortly.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Birds are usually frightened of anything new. It's a natural behavior that's one of the things that keeps them alive longer in the wild. If they see you walking around of the sand, using the toe of your shoe or boot to move some of it around as an imitation of their scratching in it, they'll get used to it faster. After doing all that, I'd throw a treat they're familiar with and like on top of it, like scratch or sunflower seed. If that doesn't do it, you could also pick up a handful of sand and bring it over to them. Let them see it and peck at it. You could also dig around in it with your finger as they watch and then let them see it again.

It only takes a couple of minutes to do these things. Not only does it teach them about the sand, it teaches them that when they're frightened of something, they can depend on you to show them it's safe. I find that my birds get over being frightened of things right away when I show them it's safe, because they trust me and are used to me teaching them about things. Or, you can just leave them to figure it out on their own.

 

[melloladies]

Oi. Thanks guys! I'll give them time. It was very comical. Them all crowding on the ramp and in the pop door screaming like "We ain't going down there and you can't make us!!"
DH and I finally walked away and let them be. Then when the DH walked by the glass door later, he saw two of the girls down in the sand checking it out. "oh look" he said "they figured out it's not lava!"

They really are a hoot!