Does Sand In Coop Freeze In Winter?

[Pharm Girl]

I would tend to think that it won't freeze as long as it's kept dry. I use sand inside my coop and am very happy with it. We don't have many freezing days in Oregon, but it has worked well all winter here. If it's outside, it will likely freeze though.

 

[bjengel]

Quote:
Do you mind me asking what type of sand you use - do you use regular "sandbox" play quality sand, or do you use the course "river sand"?

 

[Pharm Girl]

I use the paver sand. It's slightly more course than play sand and slightly less dusty. It does come out of the bag a bit damp, but dries right away. I keep a garbage can full of it next to the coop. It scoops quite well with a kitty litter scoop.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Lots of people rave about sand but I think they live in drier climates. Lots of days here the humidity is 80-90% regardless of time of year. No amount of ventilation will get low humidity when it's 90% outside the coop.

 

[CityChook]

I don't use it inside the coop, but I have regular play sand (50 lb. bags from HD) in my covered run. It freezes. And even if it's not frozen, it's cold. I'm not sure it's a good choice for inside your coop. True, it would be less dusty, but let's all just be honest and say that chickens ARE dusty. And when you live where it's cold and they spend a lot of time inside, it's going to be REALLY dusty. It's part of the package.

If your chickens are of the type that don't like snow (like mine), they will spend a lot of time indoors over the winter. You want to make their space as hospitable, comfortable and warm as you can.

I prefer pine shavings inside the coop. They are very absorbent and easily tossed throughout the winter season to keep them from caking up. They will freeze too, if not tossed. I do it about once a week - takes 3 minutes. I put down a 6-9 inch layer in the winter, less in the summer. The pine shavings are insulating, easy on their feet and they like to nestle down into them when it's cold. Yes, they are dusty, but no more than the chickens themselves.

Good luck!

 

[Pharm Girl]

Quote:
CityChook has a good point. It depends on your coop design and the amount of time they will be spending indoors. Obviously my chickens are only in the coop at night and outside of it during the day 365 days a year. If your chickens will have to spend days inside, I would make it more comfortable for them by using shavings or even straw.

 

[Mack678]

Hey I live in Michigan too and use sand. The sand in the coop stayed dry all winter. My coop is ventilated and insulated, so there were no issues. I am really loving the sand so far.

Not sure if you have the same question for your run, but my run is connected to my coop with a gravel floor and then sand on top. The run has a roof and hardware cloth walls. I didn't get plastic siding up in time on the run to winterize it, and snow got it. The sand, of course, was then frozen solid. After I winterized, the sand barely improved with the top layer of sand freeing up slightly. But overall, it was pretty frozen. I am wondering if that first snowfall that got in kind of set it off on the wrong path or if that is what I can always expect. I am wondering if putting pavers under the sand in the run will help this next winter or if winterizing in time will do the trick. Just something to consider.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Just like an indoor riding ring the sand is always loose. If for some reason it got flooded then yes it will freeze