For those of you who DO use sand

[SamanthaDianne]

We are working on a new chicken barn. The plan is to poor a concrete slab and we have chosen to use sand as bedding. I should also mention that at capacity it can house up to 100 birds. We free range and they are supposed to end up with end up with about a 5000 square foot yard before it’s over with. Even with that, I don’t plan on getting that many very quickly lol. So my question is with living in south east Texas we have a huge temperature variation throughout the year, even throughout the week. Is there anything I should add to the sand as a preventative measure. Someone pointed out that if you do get fleas or mites in the sand that they are almost impossible to get rid of. We do not currently have any problems and haven’t had a problem before, but that’s not to say it can never happen.

 

[azygous]

Your sand will be only inside the enclosed coop, is this correct? As long as you maintain the sand, keep it raked and scooped of poop and prevent water spills, fleas and mites shouldn't infest.

These critters require moisture. If your humidity is so high that the sand becomes damp, a product such as "Stall-dry" could help if mixed into the sand. It adds to the dust is the only drawback.

 

[SamanthaDianne]

The plan is to clean it every evening when we get home. They actually make a softer shovel type thing that I was very excited to find lol. The food and waterers I plan on keeping outside. We have had one of those grandpa feeders for about 8 months now and I can not face about that thing enough. It has kept their food so dry outside even in the nasty weather we have had all winter! Fright now the plan is to have a three foot opening all the way down both long sides at the top for air flow. The pad for it is pretty well built up and the over hang eve part is really wide so unless the rain is pelting straight sideways I don’t see much outside water getting in. And one of the short sides is supposed to be big swing out double doors to get the tractor in when we do have to empty it out. I’m super relieved to hear about just regular maintenance being enough. When this lady mentioned the fleas and stuff to me it seemed to make sense and I kind of panicked inside lol

 

[ColoradoPip]

Southeast Texas, like say Center/Nacadoches is know for all of the very large chicken houses, I think there are a lot of Tyson houses there, they smell so bad even 20 miles away in the summer heat! Ahhh memories.

Anyways, the sand fleas and mites in that area are as bad as I've ever exeperienced. I did not raise chickens there but my dogs can attest that all of the grass was very safe but the minute it turned to sandy, mites and fleas everywhere. If you use that much sand I would research how to protect it. That's my 2 cents

 

[azygous]

If you do get fleas and mites, or to assure you won't, I highly recommend this product. https://www.amazon.com/Elanco-Elect...qid=1580219094&sprefix=Elector,aps,327&sr=8-1

It's safe for chickens and works biologically, is highly concentrated so it's economical in the long run in spite of its sticker price. I've used it on lice and leg mites and darkling beetles and it is amazing.

 

[SamanthaDianne]

Southeast Texas, like say Center/Nacadoches is know for all of the very large chicken houses, I think there are a lot of Tyson houses there, they smell so bad even 20 miles away in the summer heat! Ahhh memories.

Anyways, the sand fleas and mites in that area are as bad as I've ever exeperienced. I did not raise chickens there but my dogs can attest that all of the grass was very safe but the minute it turned to sandy, mites and fleas everywhere. If you use that much sand I would research how to protect it. That's my 2 cents

I’m about 50 miles south of houston very near the coast

 

[SamanthaDianne]

If you do get fleas and mites, or to assure you won't, I highly recommend this product. https://www.amazon.com/Elanco-Elector-Psp-Premise-Spray/dp/B0042L8S7A/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QGKMTY0W1OJH&keywords=elector+psp&qid=1580219094&sprefix=Elector,aps,327&sr=8-1

It's safe for chickens and works biologically, is highly concentrated so it's economical in the long run in spite of its sticker price. I've used it on lice and leg mites and darkling beetles and it is amazing.

Do you spray walls, floors and roosts before putting sand down? Or do you spray the sand itself? I really don’t want to seem like a crazy person for trying to take precautionary measures, but could you imagine a parasite problem in a flock that large? We really do try and keep everything very clean even with our little flock of 30 right now. And I guess I just see sand as the best way to maintain a clean dry atmosphere with out changing out tractor loads of shavings

 

[Sheltiepawz]

What type of scoop did you find And where did you find it? Right now I’m using a cat litter scoop. Our run is sand. We had to elevate run because we live in south louisiana. No other way around it in our climate. We use shavings for coop. I’ve not had any problems so far, but my oldest chicks just turned 20 weeks yesterday.

 

[azygous]

I would spray before laying down the sand. After that, I would spray the surface of the sand every month as well as the walls and cracks. No need to hose it down - a light spray will work. Then let air dry. This stuff is safe and you can use it as a dip or spray for your chickens if they ever pick up lice while roaming outside. There's a long residual effect. I use it to control darkling beetles which can carry bacteria that can make chickens very sick if they eat them.

 

[SamanthaDianne]

What type of scoop did you find And where did you find it? Right now I’m using a cat litter scoop. Our run is sand. We had to elevate run because we live in south louisiana. No other way around it in our climate. We use shavings for coop. I’ve not had any problems so far, but my oldest chicks just turned 20 weeks yesterday.

So you know what I mean about crazy weather! Let me look it up again. I found some on amazon. They weren’t cheap but I think they will be worth it.