Cleaning sand run

[aart]

I've used sand in the run in the beginning but there food ended up in the sand and when moisture hit it, it turns it into a stink fest.

Yep, used it in the brooder at first...got nasty!

They are obviously pooping everywhere But it seems to just get crumbled up into the sand.

Yep, chick poops are pretty hard to sift out of sand, even window screen is not fine enough let alone all the scoop folks recommend to use.

We have a wood floor lined with linoleum. The area with the coop sometimes floods. Which is why we put a floor in and raised it

Does rain water come thru the sides of the run?

Oh, and..... Welcome to BYC! @Arnolds2638
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[Arnolds2638]

The Chicken Chick has an article on sand with cleaning tips:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-coop-bedding-sand-litter/

Thanks!

 

[Arnolds2638]

Yep, used it in the brooder at first...got nasty!


Yep, chick poops are pretty hard to sift out of sand, even window screen is not fine enough let alone all the scoop folks recommend to use.

Does rain water come thru the sides of the run?

Oh, and..... Welcome to BYC! @Arnolds2638
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2416150

Thanks. I have update my settings. We are in Atlanta. I don’t think much rainwater comes in the run unless it’s super windy. The whole coop run is pretty much surrounded by the fence, a shed, and the garage. And the roof has about. 10” overhang.

I’ve just started kitty litter scooping every day. it is unbelievable how... much... poop!! But I go hang out in there with them and scoop away. We will see if I can keep it up!

 

[aart]

it is unbelievable how... much... poop!!

Oh, just wait...once they start laying, their poops triple in size!
But they'll be easier to scoop up.

 

[Arnolds2638]

Oh, just wait...once they start laying, their poops triple in size!
But they'll be easier to scoop up.

I’ve already noticed the change in caliber. So actually looking forward to the bigger poops fr ease!

 

[Farmgirl1878]

We have had our now 6 week old chicks in the run and coop for almost a week. They are loving it. I am not sure the best way to clean the sand. They are obviously pooping everywhere But it seems to just get crumbled up into the sand. How can I sweep and scoop the waste out?

Did you ever get a response to your question? I use a long-handled metal wok skimmer. I bought it from Amazon and have one in the coop and another in the run. I’m retired, so have the luxury of being able to spend time with the girls, but still only scoop poop in the morning and evening. Every three or four months, I’ll throw down a bag of Sweet PDZ Stall Refresher to replenish the sand mix on the poop decks, but the run doesn’t smell. At all. And that’s according to visitors, not just me!

The pic above is the short-handled skimmer. Here‘s the link to the long-handled skimmer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000DZXGLW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[aart]

Did you ever get a response to your question?

Did you read the whole thread?

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Did you read the whole thread?

Mornin’ @aart! Yep, lots of good info, but I wanted to make sure the OP got all the answers she needed. You know I have to add my two cents worth when it come to sand.

And even more importantly, the wonders of the wok spider!

 

[aart]

And even more importantly, the wonders of the wok spider!

It does look like one of the best sifters(1/4" holes?), but still...too much wo(r)k.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

It does look like one of the best sifters(1/4" holes?), but still...too much wo(r)k.

Very punny! Yep, the holes are maybe even a little smaller. It gets the baby poop from during the day, but I’ll still use the sieve once they’ve moved out of the nest box and onto the roosts.