keeping chickens out of sandbox!!!

[tjandkids]

My children want to set up their new sandbox... minus the chicken poo. We have the sandbox and the bags of sand. Is there a way to keep the chickens out of the kids' sand? I see lots and lots of posts on how much chickens love the sand, and none on how to keep them out!

 

[redsoxs]

I think a fence with a gate for your kids to go in and out might be your only option. They do indeed love scratching around in the sand.

 

[applegal]

I think a fence with a gate for your kids to go in and out might be your only option. They do indeed love scratching around in the sand.

I agree... they do love sand. They will be dustbathing in it in a hot second.

 

[Percheron chick]

Fill a litterbox with some sand and put it in their run. They do love hot sand and once they find a sweet spot to bathe, they'll keep coming back to it. Make a cover for the sand box. Will keep the cats out as well.

 

[tjandkids]

I have heard that cinnamon will keep cats out. I was hoping that dry mustard or something would keep chickens out! Maybe I will try it then let everybody know! A fence isn't an option because the sandbox is built into the kids' new swing set/fort so that would require about 50 feet of fence. However, a cover we can build! I'll be sure to post what we figure out! Thank you to all!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Would you really want your kids to be playing in a sandbox filled with mustard powder?

I vote for the fence/cover idea.

Also, cinnamon does not really keep cats out of a sandbox, either. Only a cover keeps cats out of a sandbox.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

They sell screen covers for the top of sandboxes that will keep them away.