Maintenance of run with sand?

[gingernutranger]

For about a year I kept sand in my 3 breeding runs but recently switched to hog fuel arena footing which is a mixture of decomposed wood chips that bread down and absorb and chemicals or water which enters the run. It should be replaced every once in a while but is very cheap compared to sand. I will attach some pictures below of old and new hog fuel from Maidstone Farm.

When I was using sand I would rake it out every few weeks and get rid of all the straw that fell out the doors into it and any clumps of waste. If you have a thick layer you can mix it it but eventually its going to get hard like it did in mine and you are going to have to keep changing it every year or two. I also used sand in the barn for a while and used a horse poop pick to get everything out but you need a really well ventilated coop or else it gets a bad stench which isnt good for your chickens.

Old

New

 

[kichohana]

my run is covered and enclosed - about 6x7'. i put about 5-6" sand in the floor right on top of the dirt. it has been a joy for me as a first time chicken keeper to see how easy this is to maintain. occasionally i scoop out the bigger poops when i see 'em, but mostly they dry up and break down into the sand. i do occasionally sprinkle in some DE, especially when it's really hot n humid - keeps the smell down and dries up the poop faster. i rake about once a month to get out feathers, corn cobs, cabbage cores, melon rinds, etc. it is quite simple to maintain and i'm so glad i read about it here on BYC. highly recommend it.

 

[GoldenCometLover]

Hi - i have been checking old posts and am trying to find out what kind of sand to use- is playgorund sand safe for chickens??

 

[wegotchickens]

Playground sand is what we use for ours.

 

[GoldenCometLover]

Okay! Thank you very much....I wanted to make sure I got the right kind! Much appreciated!!

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Construction sand is best.

 

[GoldenCometLover]

Okay - i have not heard of construction sand!

I have found playground sand at lowes, but not construction sand - they have a "sand mix" that is sand and cement mix, but that does not sound right for chickens....what is different about construction sand? Are partricles larger/smaller? Thanks for the help!

 

[elmo]

I use the all purpose sand they sell at our local Lowe's. For some reason, the all purpose sand they sell at Home Depot is much finer and clumps. I think playground sand would be too fine.

 

[jomercer]

"Washed concrete sand" is coarse and not too dusty.

 

[GoldenCometLover]

Is playground sand dusty?