Cost effective ways to dump sand?

[frog522]

I have a 5'x4' chicken run with sand on a concrete floor. I've used the sand for about a year and half now, without replacing any. There is a detectable smell now when I kneel down in the run which is bothering me. I have been scooping out poop nearly daily since I have been using it. I only used about 10 bags (can't remember how heavy each bag was, 30 pounds? they weren't that big) when I first filled the run. Right now, there is probably about 6-7 bags (worth) of sand in the run. I would like to replace it all with new sand.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how and where to dump the sand? I live in a suburban neighborhood. I am thinking I may have to hire a company or service to pick up and dump the sand for me. I hope it is not expensive otherwise I would be paying $100 to dump dirty sand that originally cost maybe $20 new.

Has anyone had any experience with dumping/replacing sand?

 

[SteveBaz]

Spread about 5 lbs of Food Grade DE (diatomaceous earth) and mix it up and turn it. Lay it outside spread out and let it air out and throw the DE down. or Spread the sand all over you gardens. Fantastic fertilizer with the chicken poop in it and 2 helps with water in the soil.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Spread a couple of bags of AG (pelletized) Lime on the sand and mix it in.

That will kill most of the odor.

Another option is simply spread the sand over your lawn.
You're only talking about 500 lbs or so

There's no point in hauling it anywhere

 

[Jferlisi]

I would just throw some DE in there and add a few more bags of sand.

 

[justbugged]

Dig it into any garden, flower bed, or around the landscape plants. It is amazing stuff in a garden.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
You would defenitely have some pretty grass.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We have heavy clay here. I'd put it in the gardens and on the lawn, happy to have it.

In your case, I'd try turning some lime into it, first. Make sure you don't get the caustic type.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You would defenitely have some pretty grass.

It's been cleaned out every day, so there isn't any appreciable amount of fertilizer left in it.

It takes TONS of manure to amount to enough actual nutrients to fertilize just one acre​

 

[ChickEngineer]

My gardener also recommended spreading on the lawn.