Issues with sand in run

[Grandmoi]

I just ordered a 36" skimmer for the coop!

Now that's a great idea !

 

[Farmgirl1878]

My phone is crazy!!!! The first load of sand I used was the wrong kind and didn't work well. Clumped and hard.I am in sw ohio too. I got coarser sand and for two years it has been fine. I am allergic to mold and of all things mouse droppings so this year I am changing to sand in the coop so it is less inviting to mice. So far I only have mole problems. You would think moles wouldnt like sand.

I’m allergic to… well, everything! It’s easier to tell you what I’m NOT allergic to. I do love the sand, even though it’s dusty. I just turn on the vent fan when I scoop poop or wear a cotton mask if I can’t turn the fan on for some reason. We don’t have moles in the run, but they love the areas where I’ve mixed sand into the clay soil. Easier to dig I guess! We do have short-tailed voles in the run. They leave the girls alone and the girls leave them alone. I’m going to upgrade the 2” by 4” fencing and replace it all with hardware cloth this spring, so they won’t be able to get in through the fence.

 

[MommyGirl]

Just wanted to update this threads and say that I switched from sand to wood chips in my run almost 2 years ago and it has been the best! Atleast for me here in Georgia! It has worked so much better! I love it! Thanks for everyone’s advice

 

[EagleEyes]

My last place, I had a run that was sand filled, 6" deep and I had it for about 6 years and the only thing I did was till it up once and a while. It also was covered.
So this is my new setup, and again has 6-8" of sand and I'll do the same. It also is covered.
I throw scratch around every day or so and they keep it loose. I'll also till it once and a while.
No problems and if you want a little more info/pics you can look at my build article.
BTW in my coop I use deep bedding, probably 6 bales of wood chips

 

[MommyGirl]

My last place, I had a run that was sand filled, 6" deep and I had it for about 6 years and the only thing I did was till it up once and a while. It also was covered.
So this is my new setup, and again has 6-8" of sand and I'll do the same. It also is covered.
I throw scratch around every day or so and they keep it loose. I'll also till it once and a while.
No problems and if you want a little more info/pics you can look at my build article.
BTW in my coop I use deep bedding, probably 6 bales of wood chips

I tried the sand but it just didn’t work for me. It’s amazing how different things work out for some people and not others but I guess it has a lot to do with climate as well! My first year I used sand and it got hard and muddy and I hated it then switched to wood chips and it’s been awesome for 2 years now. I’m just glad to find what works for me!

 

[Devorah]

I tried the sand but it just didn’t work for me. It’s amazing how different things work out for some people and not others but I guess it has a lot to do with climate as well! My first year I used sand and it got hard and muddy and I hated it then switched to wood chips and it’s been awesome for 2 years now. I’m just glad to find what works for me!

How did you do the switch?

 

[MommyGirl]

How did you do the switch?

We just put the wood chips over top of the sand. And as time has went by it seems to even has softened the sand somehow because the chickens dig down and dirt bath in it now even though they have a dust bath bin

 

[Shadrach]

Ok guys! Im having some issues with sand in my run. Wanted to see if any of you have any advice? Ive been keeping chickens for a year now and ive got a sand run. I loved it at first the sand seemed clean and stayed loose but now in places it hard as a brick and hard to break up. I try to turn it with an ground areator thingy but its just getting to hard. Should i give up on the sand and which to wood chips or what does everyone think?

You don't need sand or wood chip. Bare earth is hard to beat. However, one does have to dig it over from time to time. This is generally good practice no matter what one uses in a run.

 

[3KillerBs]

You don't need sand or wood chip. Bare earth is hard to beat. However, one does have to dig it over from time to time. This is generally good practice no matter what one uses in a run.

That's going to depend on the nature of your soil.

Most of my soil is nearly pure quartz sand -- fossilized beach dunes from the Miocene -- and would share all the disadvantages of a sand run if I weren't rotating fencing to keep some vegetation going.

Camp Cockerel, however, is sitting on a thin layer of pure white clay, which doesn't absorb anything. I'm using my chickens intentionally to try to break up that clay and incorporate organic material into it.

A richer, deeper, more well-structured soil with plenty of organic material in it naturally, good soil structure, etc. can undoubtedly perform exactly as you suggest.

 

[Shadrach]

That's going to depend on the nature of your soil.

No it isn't.

If as in your case you already have sandy ground then adding more isn't going to help is it.
If on the other hand chooses wood chip then you've just added expense. Wood chip, particularly the large chip variety isn't particularly comfortable for chickens to walk on and on top of a sand base it's completely pointless.

The same reasoning applies to heavy clay soil.

Digging over a run and digging in the chicken shit should improve the soil over time. It's never a bad idea in any conditions I can think of.

I don't think you've understood my post.