Input on sand?

[ParksPoultry]

*the current sand on the roost was there to test the shelf. It’s from the kids’ play box and will be removed and replaced before the chickens spend a night in there.

My husband and I just finished a new coop for our flock. I’m so excited because last time I couldn’t help much with construction or design because I had just had our baby. So this time I designed it and built it with my husband. There are still little thing to be done like shutters that will fold out to protect against sun and rain, as well as close to help insulate. And a little paint/stain on the doors. We are going to finish the run, but that not as high in my priority list because they mostly free range. I was also going to enclose underneath the roost shelf for a brooder like my other coop, but I’ve never kept chicks on sand, so maybe I should add a frame to keep sand out and just use pine shavings?

I’ve been looking into sand for underneath the roost, but what about the rest of the coop? I’ve been reading up on the types of sand but wanted to ask what your experiences were. My goal is to help keep the coop clean and dry. After a round of treating cocci I’m ready to get my chickies into the new coop. We do make our own pine shavings, so that’s not the issue. It was just my impression that sand was more sanitary. Thoughts?

 

[aart]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 10+ years.

 

[Jimmy W]

Very Nice Coop

 

[ParksPoultry]

Very Nice Coop

Thank you!

 

[ParksPoultry]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 10+ years.

Thank you! This was super insightful! I’ve been thinking about the deep litter method too.