Pro's and Con's of a sand run?

[Standard Hen]

This is my situation. I am having my above ground pool removed soon, never use it anymore and can't afford to run it anyway. Well of course under the pool is a ton of sand. My chicken coops and pens are on the side of a hill and all the water runs off into the pens which can literally create a pool of it's own never mind a mud hole and then it proceeds to stink to the high heavens until it drys out. I am thinking of putting all the sand in the pens figuring it will be better than mud and will hopefully drain better. Those of you that have sand runs, do you like them? I think it will at least solve the problem that I have now but also I do not want to create another of some kind. Any input will be appreciated. Thanks so much.

 

[allen wranch]

I love my sand runs. They drain easily and are easy on the birds' feet. The only downside is they compact after a while and I have to go in with a pitch fork or roto-tiller and loosen it up some. It is not hard though and is a good opportunity to till some lime in and "sweeten" any smell and kill some bacteria.

 

[Standard Hen]

Thanks Carla, I guess that answered my question so guess where the sand from under the pool is going??? lol
I really think it will be better than what I have now as it really is a mud hole when it rains and it gets so slippery too. I fell down in there one time and it was not nice, there is no place for the water to go if we get heavy rains or lots of snow and then it starts to melt. Thanks again.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

I have been researching sand runs because my run is full of rocks!

I have come up with good for drainage, easy clean up go over lightly with garden rake once a week! my roost pit also sand so this will just be part of weekly rooutine

Joanne

 

[annrich]

Heres what I did. We put up a new pool. The other one was shot. We took the old sand and filled in part of my run, and the holes they made for dust baths. The parts with the pool sand drains better after a rain. I see the chickens in the sandy parts more than the dirt. They love it.

Good luck!! Ann

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

I use sand in the run it is easy to keep clean and I will use Sweet PDZ and DE also.

 

[mainely-chick]

I also have sand and it works great for drainage but as
previously stated needs to be maintained, as they
really abuse the ground.

 

[Standard Hen]

Sounds good and I am so glad I will have a use for all that sand. Now the moving of it all is not going to be fun. It will be so nice to not have a mud pit in my chicken pens!
Thanks everyone!

 

[lurky]

Standard Hen, where in Mass are you? I think i saw you post it before but i wondered if you were near me at all? If i remember correctly you are in the area to the west of springfield?

 

[Standard Hen]

lurky, I am about an hour south of Boston depending on traffic of course. The farther away from cities I am the better! I work in one and that is enough!