Expert Advice? Play Sand in Coop With No Issue

[dbounds10]

Hi all! I had a flock of 18 for 11 years that were kept in a coop using premium play sand. Most died of old age and I would still have 4 if not for a predator attack. I live in Fort Worth Texas so mostly hot and dry weather. I never had an issue with the sand and health. I just got 9 new babies so I am brushing up on raising them. I see all kinds of folks saying play sand is a huge no no but I never had issues. I still have a pallet of sand that I was about to dump in the freshly cleaned and repainted coop. From the veterans/experts out there….what are the issues you see using this again?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I'm trying to find what other's have said is "bad" about play sand and I don't really find anything. I would assume it's the concern that it has concrete in it. So as long as it does not, sand is great. I've got sandy beach where I live so it's free and you can bet I use it in the coop! I use it in poop trays, dust baths and I always put a big dish of it in my brooder for babies to get used to my soil, dust bath, eat (grit,) goof around in, whatever....

 

[aart]

I see all kinds of folks saying play sand is a huge no no but I never had issues.

If it's worked for you, why change?
Play sand can be fine and thus dusty.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I use it in my Duck pen and have never had any foot problems with any of my flock. I do have to replace it yearly as they manage to turn it into mud in different places when it rains really hard here. They love the sand though and I use Construction sand that I get by the truck load here in Ohio. My Ducks all stay healthy so I am sure it does not have concrete in it or anything to harm them or else they would have surely suffered from it by now. They have been on it for 3 years with no problems at all. Good luck with your pen. Everyone has a different opinion about it because a lot has to do with the climate it is used in.