Official BYC Poll: How Do You Get Rid of Dirty Coop Bedding?

[Ascholten]

I have no bedding in my coop just sandy dirt I use a long handled cat poop scoop I scoop daily and dump it in the woods

after shoveling out a while, do you find that your sandy dirt level is getting low? what do you do for replenishment? yes you are taking the clumps out but dirt inevitably will stick to it, especially when they start rooting around in it and stirring things up.

Aaron

 

[Regina Larsen]

I use it as mulch in the orchard

 

[Suzz]

after shoveling out a while, do you find that your sandy dirt level is getting low? what do you do for replenishment? yes you are taking the clumps out but dirt inevitably will stick to it, especially when they start rooting around in it and stirring things up.

Aaron

I actually scoop more than shovel like cat poop It does get low for a couple of years we went and got pickup bed of our sandy dirt we have in our area but this year I discovered all purpose sand 50 lb bags I think over time I bought almost the whole pallet 3 bags at a time Ive used this method 4 years with no problems we are lucky to have sandy loose soil in our area after a huge rainstorm what puddles do form are gone in hours

 

[Ascholten]

Gone in hours is not terriffic drainage. Sounds like a lot of silt in that soil too. But if it's not causing a big problem then good for you.

If you know you'll be keeping them a while etc etc, why not call one of the local landscaping companies to just have a dumper come and drop off a few yards of sand for you. Over time you'll save a ton (ok pun semi intended ) and can just shovel it in as you need, or any other places you need it. Those bags get expensive after a while, and with prices going up on everything, saving a dollar here and there is going to be much more of a priority here soon for almost everyone.

Aaron

 

[Suzz]

Gone in hours is not terriffic drainage. Sounds like a lot of silt in that soil too. But if it's not causing a big problem then good for you.

If you know you'll be keeping them a while etc etc, why not call one of the local landscaping companies to just have a dumper come and drop off a few yards of sand for you. Over time you'll save a ton (ok pun semi intended ) and can just shovel it in as you need, or any other places you need it. Those bags get expensive after a while, and with prices going up on everything, saving a dollar here and there is going to be much more of a priority here soon for almost everyone.

Aaron

 

[Suzz]

it seems to be good be good for growing corn and beans I never get puddles in the run or coop
I was just speaking in general we have good dirt for chickens thanks for the landscaping idea never thought of that it certainly would be good to save some money in the long run

 

[Ascholten]

It's a bit of work, shoveling but if you got a pickup truck or someone who'd not mind lending you one, you can go pick up the sand too, they bucket it in, you drive it home, park truck where you want it and shovel it out. That'll save you 50 bucks or whatever they may want to charge for delivery. On that, Ive had mulch dumped here before (free im a cheap ass) and had the neighbor come help me dig it off, in return he got to take some home too! Work a deal with your neighbor, split the cost of it or split the shipping etc.

Aaron

 

[Suzz]

for a couple of years we went and got a full pickup bed of the sandy dirt we have in our area

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Wood is slow to decompose.

It will do it in a season in my warm climate, but you're probably too cool for that.

Oh shes too cool alright!

 

[Vicker]

I use large pine flakes. They take a loooonnnggg time to compost but I do use them for mulch.