Got sand? You should!

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I still have dirt runs but will soon place sand on top. The only problem that I have with a dirt run is that I have to rake up the poop an I rake up some of the dirt. The other problem that I have is that the girls are digging too many deep holes in the ground in order to get a tight squeeze in the hole so that they can get a "deep cleansing" dirt bath. They want to be submerge/hide in the ground. Not good for me.

. I can't stand the deep holes. It drives me KRAZY!!!

Dirt is fine if it works ok for you.

 

[treekatie]

Quote:
Sand itself does not freeze. If it has water in it then when that water freezes it will make the sand feel like concrete. No water, no freezing. Dirt (soil) doesn't freeze either, but if it's damp with water that water will freeze as well, just like water in sand. It will also be hard.

 

[The Tinman]

There is always going to be moisture in the coop.From the chickens,waterer,air,rain and snow that the chickens bring in from outside. What I wanted to know if anybody who lives where the temps get really cold has any experience using sand and is freezing a problem.

 

[KensingtonHens]

Quote:
I still have dirt runs but will soon place sand on top. The only problem that I have with a dirt run is that I have to rake up the poop an I rake up some of the dirt. The other problem that I have is that the girls are digging too many deep holes in the ground in order to get a tight squeeze in the hole so that they can get a "deep cleansing" dirt bath. They want to be submerge/hide in the ground. Not good for me.

. I can't stand the deep holes. It drives me KRAZY!!!

Dirt is fine if it works ok for you.

Thanks! Yeah my girls don't dig much but they do scratch a lot. They have one dirt hole they bath in, but not even everyday.

I thought they'd want to play in the dirt, in the sun often. The thing I really notice is they want out of the run! They wait by the door of they run and hope I'm going to let them free range. Which I do do sometimes. Last time they got loose and were running around the sidewalk!!

 

[chellejeff]

I just added a bunch of photos to my page for any that are interested in the construction of the hen house, or just curious.

 

[HennyPenny2]

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Yes, I have a double layer of heavy duty plastic liner (the kind that comes in a big role at like Lowes or HD) and stapled it about 3 inches up the sides.

 

[maizey]

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thats a cool looking place you have and those photos in the fog are sureal looking...neat!

 

[Bobby Joe]

Chellejeff ...great pics ,the hen house is awsome .I loved the comentary about the reason for the broken ankle...lol ...

great place, lots of nice birds and thank you for doing what you do for society and kids

 

[pringle]

I personally dont use sand for a couple of reasons.When it gets cold it sucks the warmth from the body and it gets really cold here.And also it gets dusty inside the coop and I dont think its too great for the chickens (or my) lungs.

 

[Gypsi]

Quote:
I've been using kids play sand in my run, after reading all of the articles on here last year, and I'd say it is safe, but it is expensive - $4 for 50 lbs. Takes about 6 bags to do 3/4 of my run (the most trafficked areas where they dust bathe) If I did not add sand, I think their dust bath digging would turn the run into a pond with rainfall. I use a rake and square shovel for poop removal, when it looks like it needs it. The area under the ladder roost in the run accumulates the most, and my birds don't walk UNDER the roosts much. Neither do I.... I have added sand about every 3 or 4 months, eventually I hope the run area will be higher than the surrounding yard and it will help the drainage. I got my birds March 2nd 2010, so we'll see how this goes.

In the coop, removable epdm rubber liner with a bit of straw. No deep pile. (now that it's cold I "grok" why deep pile is so popular)