Eastern Tennessee Thread

[bairo]

chiggerbait

I should also mention that you can put them on flock raiser after 4 weeks if need be. I have had to go to it with a separate feeder full of oyster shell because I have three different ages going right now. Everybody does good on the flock raiser and the layers will take the oyster shell if they need it for the calcium.

Stang

You wont be sorry. I thought all the hoopla about it was a little exaggerated my self, but it is like the miracle bedding. Unless I see some problem in the future with it...I'll always use it from now on. Just remember that you need a very course sand, the regular play ground stuff is too fine and it packs down real bad.

 

[stanglover2001]

LOL, I can see myself now trying to sift through play sand cussing about the so called "ease" of it!

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Terri and whoever else is interested...

I finally got to try sand. I got a big cu.yard (probably 1/2 ton) for 17.00
I could have got a full ton for that but the trailer was not big enough. Anyway, it was enough to give me an inch in the main area that is 12x14. It has only been a couple days and I absolutely love it. Already the dust level has gone from horrible to nearly nothing. I went out this morning and all the poo was dried and right on top. I spent 5 minutes sifting it out just like kitty litter. I did not think I really had a dust or smell problem until I went to sand, now I see that I must have because it is soooooo much better. I will never look back to shavings again. I spent about 150.00 per year on shavings. I estimate I will now only spend 15.00 per year just replenishing the sand. I dont have any immediate plans to do the run, but mine stays pretty dry and clean anyway. If it ever gets messy then I imagine 2 tons will do my run easily.
I could not find river sand per se, but I found a really course concrete sand that has some tiny pebbles in it as well.

I started using sand a few months ago and love it. I used play sand....I can't remember how much it was but will check. After my chickens eat all the grass..then it is mud because they eat every little sprig that sprouts. So...I put 6 inches of sand in the run and it is great. Getting ready to do the big run soon. It is best to rake it good a couple times a week to keep it fresh cause it packs down easy. DH fenced a really nice area for my chickens yesterday. I can rotate letting everyone out and with the size I should not have to worry about the grass getting eaten down like with the runs. Now I don't have to worry about muddy/poopy eggs!!

 

[Barbedwirecat]

Now you guys are getting me talked into sand too! Where is a good place to look into getting it (I don't have a transport vehicle yet though)?

 

[bairo]

Look in the phone book for a gravel place or quarry near you. If they dont have it, they can probably tell you where to get it. Tell them you are looking for river sand or a course sand with tiny pebbles in it. We have it here at a small quarry, but I also found it from a landscaping place that sells mulch and soil etc. in bulk.

 

[Snozzle]

I raise silkies....but you are a bit of a ways from me. I live in Jefferson Co. I would say you are around an hour or so from me. I live right off the interstate. You and your friend are welcome to come visit if you want to drive that far. I have some that are around 2 months old ready to sell.

I'm sure she wouldn't mind going a bit further. She is so excited and can't wait to get them. What colors do you have? I just send her a text, not sure if she is up yet.

 

[grawg]

Sand huh? I wonder how the ducks would like it... I don't mind using straw too much because it gives me lots of compost for the garden. Gotta love "duck sheets" (large matted down straw held together by fertilizer)

How do you keep the sand from sinking into the mud? If I dropped a load of sand in my yard it would be gone in no time.

 

[laughingdog]

my pigeons liked sand, but then again it didnt last too long, as they ate and bathed in it too, and thought it great spot to build nests, which oddly i think it was.. course their eggs dont need the turning and humidity od chickens or especially ducks, ect, though my chickens loved it too, though it did stick to them when wet, and the dry stuff that stayed that way in by the quail i had was good for them nesting on ion in and behind things. yes corturnix quail can maternally incubate own eggs (one line did, the other never did), as i found out after having them in planted aviary, were tiny babies started popping out and getting loose into my place through the wire. thought quail needed much turning and humidity, though the females given bathing water will apparently take it back to nest on down feathers.

 

[courtcourt]

Peach2u - Are you planning to sell off pullets, or just roos from your extra chicks? If you have an extra pullet or two, I'm already having chicken math issues...

 

[amenfarm]

Bairo,
Do you have 2 Delaware pullets? I have only room for 2 in quarantine. Where in Knoxville, don't know my way around. No roo's--the donkey makes enough noise for everyone living within a 1/2 mile, LOL.