Can anyone see any problem using class I sand for my pen. It is down to dirt now and I don't feel like I can clean it very well. I have class I sand (not the real fine sand but a bit more like limestone small flakes), in front of the coop door and I like it very much. It packs down and still has a crumbly top on it. It hoses off pretty well and drains well. I do have a fine sand dust bath for them which they love. I just put the fine sand in my coop and now want something outside that is easy to clean. I also don't think they can dig as much in the class I and maybe it would fill in some of the holes they have made and stay more level. They can still scratch in it so that would not be taken away from them. Boy, the grass was gone in one season and it is pure dirt now! Any input would be greatly appreciated by this relatively new chicken!!
I don't go through all of that with my run. I throw leaves in there which gives them something to scratch through and they're fine. There's just the ground under the leaves.
I use dirt, sand and broken gravel. I like the broken gravel because they will not dig into as much and can eat it for grit and is eay to clean. The dirt is great for bathing and the sand is an in-between. I use dirt far from areas I want them bathing like food and water areas and next to the coop - for those areas I use the gravel and I transition from the gravel to the dirt with sand. I works well and is the one time my chickens behaive exactly as I had planned.
Use whatever is cheap and easy to get It's all still sand, and they are just chickens who won't care at all I also don't think they can dig as much in the class I You said it stays "crumbly on top" If they dig an inch, then the exposed part becomes the new "top" and crumbles so they can dig another inch Don't try to over think all this They WILL dig, no matter what type of sand you put Just relax and enjoy the birds
I've heard its good to use a 'sand' that is something like what you use in an aquarium as gravel. So I just take my kitty litter scoop to the garden supply centre and the gravel/sand with the biggest stone that will flow through my scoop is the one I get. Makes for quick poop removal. I've heard fine sand can be bad for the lungs so I don't what my hens kicking it up breathing it in all the time. My sand is also on a concrete slab though so idk how well it will work when the chooks mix it with the dirt.
Thanks everyone. I did use pine needles and leaves and it was ok for a while but it breaks down quickly and needs replacing often. My pen is 20X20 so it is a lot of area to cover. I think I will go with the class I sand as it seems to be a good combination of everything you all have mentioned. I use a dog scooper rake and pan to clean up the run and it has worked well on the areas that I already have the class I sand. It is not dusty like the play sand which I keep in their dust bath area. Always looking for a better and easier way to keep things clean...........boy, 22 chickens poop alot!! LOL
