Converting to Sand in chicken coop... I want to hear from you!

[gtaus]

I use sand for my coops mixed with PDZ. I only have about 3” of the sand in each coop so I don’t follow the deep method. Every other day I scoop all the poop like you would with cat litter. I tried shaving but the smell and frustration of wet poop stuck to my birds feet drove me crazy, especially with my feathered leg birds. With the sand my birds have clean feet and I don’t have any smell.

Understand. I think location plays an important role in what works best for your chickens. I went with the deep litter method because I knew that I did not want to be cleaning out the coop every few days. In fact, most people here where I live cannot clean their coops out for a good 3-4 months during the winter. Everything is frozen solid. This will be my first winter with laying hens, so I guess I will see if my deep litter bedding holds up.

I don't see sand as a viable alternative where I live for the winter months. The urine in the chicken poop would freeze in the sand and turn it into concrete. I hope I will be able to stir the woodchips in the winter. The goal for me is to keep things as clean as possible and any smells minimized.

 

[aart]

I have a very arid climate,
.....I'm a very compulsive neat freak

Arid climate and 'constant' scooping is what makes sand work best.
Most don't have your excellent coop/run setup, let alone your diligence.

 

[aart]

The urine in the chicken poop

Just want to point out that chicken urine is not liquid...
...it's the white portion of the poop.

 

[gtaus]

Just want to point out that chicken urine is not liquid...
...it's the white portion of the poop.

I did not know that. I knew that the feces and urine were combined, and have been told it freezes hard as a rock in winter. Right now, the chicken poop gets into my deep litter bedding and mostly disappears. Which is why I like the deep litter method. I will find out how well the deep litter system works this winter when the temps get below freezing.

 

[anderstr196]

Understand. I think location plays an important role in what works best for your chickens. I went with the deep litter method because I knew that I did not want to be cleaning out the coop every few days. In fact, most people here where I live cannot clean their coops out for a good 3-4 months during the winter. Everything is frozen solid. This will be my first winter with laying hens, so I guess I will see if my deep litter bedding holds up.

I don't see sand as a viable alternative where I live for the winter months. The urine in the chicken poop would freeze in the sand and turn it into concrete. I hope I will be able to stir the woodchips in the winter. The goal for me is to keep things as clean as possible and any smells minimized.

I completely understand the freezing, I lived near Fort Drum for 10 years and just moved south 3 years ago, I was just giving you my experience with sand and why I liked it.