Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[Tomtommom]

Sand is cheap , and if at least 1 FOOT above grade, cuts down on parasites as it dries so fast. If your runs aren't level, you will have to shovel it up the hill occasionally though.I use liriope ( Monkey grass ) to hold the sand on my runs, as they are on a hill. The Orps don't seem to like the stuff, and it really makes a mat that holds the sand.Masonary sande is the best, as it is coarse.

A nice by product of using sand is that if you screen it every day, you have instant fertilizer. Chicken litter mixed with sand, NOT shavings, does not burn my flowers , or bushes. It's a win-win.

Holy cow, I didn't even THINK about monkey grass... I'm so dense

I've got the stuff growing only feet away from my incredibly muddy run and I'm just wishing and praying and thinking about what I could possibly grow that wouldn't be destroyed by the ladies. DUH!

They've never messed with it before... just not palatable I guess. Thank you! That and a good load of sand oughta make a difference.

 

[ronott1]

In areas of heavy foot traffic, I use what we call 'slag'...some quarries call it limestone sand. It's cheaper than other true sands and it works well for me. it also does double duty...my birds use this as their grit, plus it costs about half what other sand does.

It is anywhere from twice to three times the size of regular sand and does good for the jobs mentioned and I carry a 100 pound sack of it around in the trunk of my 'banger' grocery car in winter. It goes like a Jeep anyhow but this is just a little bit more for traction..The car is a 3 cylinder 1989 Metro.

I had the engine rebuilt about 9 months ago @ $2400 bucks...total and it's like a new vehicle. I'm going to see if Jason will take this fine (and quite comfortable) car to Conroe Texas to pick up our new pup. He's been a man for a long time now but he'd rather walk than be seen in that car....Ohhhh, the false pride of the young...

You brought back memories of a summer job I had once working in an Auto Wrecking yard. We used old cut down wrecked cars to drive around the lot. They were very cool.

About the limestone sand, do you have a picture of it?

 

[hellbender]

You brought back memories of a summer job I had once working in an Auto Wrecking yard. We used old cut down wrecked cars to drive around the lot. They were very cool.

About the limestone sand, do you have a picture of it?

The best pic I could find...It
packs down very nicely and is easy to clean with broom first them water hose.

 

[Tomtommom]

They sell that to farmers in bulk to amend soil as well.

 

[ronott1]

The best pic I could find...

Thanks!

I need to find some.

 

[hellbender]

Thanks!

I need to find some.

Almost any quarry. We used to get it for almost nothing because it was considered a waste product..no such thing anymore!!!

 

[hellbender]

They sell that to farmers in bulk to amend soil as well.

Yep!!! But we don't need it for that up here!

 

[thedragonlady]

Yep!!! But we don't need it for that up here!

We used to get marble dust in Ga, as we were near a quarry. Cost practically nothing, but the hauling was very costly. The stuff did keep birds from turning red in Ga. clay though, and packed hard.Wish I could get it here. Alas, no marble around here, just old ocean sand.

 

[Tomtommom]

Hm, we're smack dab between several quarries. Might have to make some calls

 

[3riverschick]

In areas of heavy foot traffic, I use what we call 'slag'...some quarries call it limestone sand. It's cheaper than other true sands and it works well for me. it also does double duty...my birds use this as their grit, plus it costs about half what other sand does.

It is anywhere from twice to three times the size of regular sand and does good for the jobs mentioned

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If I remember the old books correctly this kind of sand also helps keep bugs down because they don't like the lime in the limestone.
Best,
Karen