Gong to use sand

[itsthelaw37801]

Read the article on here about putting sand in the run of your chicken coop. It was super interesting and we are swayed in that direction now. Would love to hear from people who have tried it. We live in TN, and it gets damp in the mornings. Plus, the chickens have eaten all the grass so they are only left with the dirt.

Would love to hear others experiences. Has it worked for you? What problems did you encounter?

 

[PamelaTX]

BUMP....I have the same question!

 

[dwegg]

There should be a sand thread on here...I posted on it a while back....but sand is awesome, looks awesome, easy to clean with a cat scoop, stays dry as sand cannot hold moisture, my girls dust bath in it every time I clean straight away (I clean mine once a week) and sprinkle DE across The top...

Cuts down dust and the chickens love it...stays cool in the summer...but I do not have sand in the coop for the silkies...the runs yes...but as they sleep on the floor mostly it will be too cold during winter so I have shavings just in that part of their coop...I will post some pics for you...

 

[dwegg]

 

[jak2002003]

Can I put sand in the outdoor run? The chickens have eaten most of the grass now and when it rains the dirt gets really muddy and messy.

Does it matter is it rains on the sand? Does it dry out quickly? My run never smells bad, but I was worried the damp sand might make it smell and take longer to dry out then earth.

I have sand inside the coop at the moment and its great as its always dry and the poop dries up quickly. Its easy the clean and look nice too.

 

[itsthelaw37801]

First, dwegg, I am totally in-love with the outside of your coop. I want to start working on mine now. (my husband is going to hate you) I love the hanging pots. But I ADORE the lights. That is too cute.

I would like to know the answer to jak2002003's questions also. I wasn't thinking about putting it in the coop. I was considering the run. Some advice. And if you've already answered these once, please direct me to there and I'll stop bothering you. (sorry) I read the article on here, but I didn't see anyone's post.

 

[dwegg]

Wet sand is yuck! And it is impossible to clean...for sand to do its job it must be fine and dry in my opinion...I use wheat straw for the outside areas as a layer on top of the dirt...

I use it only in my covered runs....maybe some else can give their opinion on using sand outside...

 

[itsthelaw37801]

We have a covered run. Yipee.