post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Flock Master64]

What about pea gravel? I've heard people talking about using that on here

 

[chickluvinfreak]

What about pea gravel? I've heard people talking about using that on here

I do have pea gravel in my run. And it works Ok, but is difficult to clean because the fork method doesn't work on gravel. The sand falls through the fork but the gravel gets stuck and I throw alot of it away. The only good thing about it is drainage. It drains really well after raining and is always dry. I tried putting sand on top of the gravel so i could get the benefits of both. But since the sand is lighter it fell to the bottom and I still have gravel on top. I'll probably end up taking the gravel out and putting in all sand. Since it cant be cleaned very well it needs replaced more often then sand. So I don't really recommend pea gravel unless you get a massive amount of rain or can buy it for really cheap and replace it often.

 

[Flock Master64]

Thanks, I'll add that to my list of things to buy once I get a job. So far the list consists of two things, an automatic chicken coop door and now sand for the rest of run floor

 

[RunningBear]

 

[lovechicks1293]

nice!

 

[MeepBeep]

Ok thanks, is it expensive and how do I clean out the run?

It can be expensive depending on how big your run is.

Unless you have a very small run or don't live anywhere near a gravel pit, there is really no reason to waste your money on bagged sand beyond some convince... I can get a literal ton (2000 lbs) at the local gravel pit for about $15 if I shovel/load myself or about $20 a ton at a local bulk yard/garden supply company if I load myself... Even if you have a car, you can load up 5 gallon buckets, fill used feed bags or whatever you have to transport it in the car, pretty much just as easy as bags at the store... Around me delivery is under $100 for up to 12 tons or you can rent a small trailer if you have hitch for cheap enough... In the end if you need more than give or take 10 bags it's generally cheaper to purchase in bulk...

When you factor in that 50 lb bags of sand are about $2.50 - $4.00 it doesn't take much to exceed gravel pit prices for a ton...

Same applies to pea gravel, pretty much the same prices as sand per ton at the pit or yard/garden supply stores...

I'm personally not a fan of sand, but I know some people love it, and I suspect a lot of the love/hate is due to different environments and the number of birds you are caring for...

 

[jennyf]

If you end up going the bagged sand route, Home Depot offered broken bags to me for half off. I've asked since then and they've given them to me again discounted. Just bring tape with you!

 

[Flock Master64]

I actually do live near a place that sells gravel and my dad had a big trailer i could use. Now is there a specific kind of sand I should get?

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

I actually do live near a place that sells gravel and my dad had a big trailer i could use. Now is there a specific kind of sand I should get?

You can get play sand from home-depot and I just got my sand out of the stream. And when it rains it washes down more sand and I get free sand when I need it.

 

[Flock Master64]

Ok thanks!