Got sand? You should!

[jeccajo]

I'm new to the forum, but wanted to ask all of you sand users....do you all have plastic down under the sand? Is this something that must be done...I assume so but just wanted to check because I am going to try this! I'm so excited to re-do the floor of my coop now! Thanks for the info!

 

[welasharon]

Not in the run. You want it to be able to drain. Not sure about inside the coop.
sharon

 

[parisplus3]

I have read all the posts but still not sure what people think about sand in coops and/or runs for climates where the temps get below zero. I do heat the coop when the temperature gets below 20. I would appreciate some more comments and thoughts about sand and cold climates.

 

[jeccajo]

Yes, I am only looking at the inside of my coop for now. Maybe later I will get to the run outside!

 

[MaryanneD]

I'm trying to design myself a quail hutch, and I am thinking about having sand as the flooring.

Has anyone used this with quail? Do they poop big enough for kitty litter scoops to work? (I've never had quail. I'm planning on getting coturnix.)

What is the word on sand and colder climates? Where I live the winters are normally around freezing during the day and then the teens at night, but there have been a few negative days. I'm thinking of making my hutch modular so that I can easily bring the kids inside when it gets too cold.

 

[KensingtonHens]

I really enjoyed all the info on sand in the run. I currently have just a dirt run, with the coop secured off the ground and surrounded with hardware cloth. The run is surrounded with chicken wire with bird netting overhead. My concern is that the run is all dirt. Is this a problem? I go in and, with a rake, clean up the poo. There is a hole in the ground where a night blooming jasmine was ( I pulled it out of the ground, heard it was poisonous to chickens) and I just rake the poo into the hole. Is this ok?

I currently have 2 hens, one EE and on RS. Planning on getting two little MFCochrins in Feb.

What do you all think? Should they have a better "floor" than dirt or is that fine? We live on the coast in San Diego>

Thanks!!

 

[chellejeff]

I do not have plastic under the sand in the house and to date have had no problems. The floor is plywood. The hen house is weather tight so I don't have issues with water getting in. My run is on a hillside, and is pretty well drained soil so I have no intention of amending that surface. The run is about 20' x 20' with 11 birds and I have not noticed any need for any kind of cleanup in the run, except occasionally raking pine needles. The house floor gets kitty litter scooped every day, but it only takes 3 or 4 minutes. As for temperature, as long as the sand is dry it shouldn't freeze or anything. The hen house has dropped into the 20's inside on a number of occasions and it hasn't been an issue. I feel like wood shavings would be less cold to the touch, but don't actually know if that's true.

new2thebrood, I'm thinking living in San Diego will make some very happy chickens.

 

[Sinfonian]

Sand isn't particularly compostable, whereas pine shavings and chicken waste make a GREAT compost addition. Since I'm primarily a gardener, compost is where it's at. For now I'll stick with shavings, though I'll keep this in mind. Thanks!

 

[The Tinman]

But will sand freeze in areas where the temps get really cold?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I don't have plastic under the sand. The sand was placed on top of the ground/dirt.