Rough sand in covered run a mistake?

[NOSA]

I went with the rough sand in the run and after reading some articles I'm wondering if I made a mistake, I've noticed there are some pretty serious drawbacks when using sand, I was going for the grit benefits and ease to clean. We live in Monterey so were not getting much rain but overall health and happiness of out chickens concern me. We also have toddlers and I'm concerned of the supposed breeding ground of e.coli it can become. Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful thanks!

 

[aart]

Only time will tell.......but if it's very dry there, that's a plus as organisms needs moisture to grow.
Many folks have found that sand is not the wonder bedding once claimed.
Sand is not really the right size for grit anyway unless it's very coarse(1/16th-1/8").

The sand will eventually become saturated with pulverized feces that won't break down.....
.......because organisms(good and bad) need moisture to grow.

I use sand in my brooder, and that is what I've discovered. I just totally change out the sand every couple batches of chicks.

 

[NOSA]

It's coarse river sand they're not eating anything but feed at the moment and about 9 weeks old. It's pretty dry right now I wonder if I can do sand bottom later and hey/straw top layer. Man now I don't know what I would do with a ton of sand and chicken poop

 

[aart]

It's coarse river sand they're not eating anything but feed at the moment and about 9 weeks old. It's pretty dry right now I wonder if I can do sand bottom later and hey/straw top layer. Man now I don't know what I would do with a ton of sand and chicken poop

Yeah, that's the problem.

You could always create a 'deep litter' on top of the sand using a thick (6-8") layer of dry organic 'brown' matter in varying sizes, shapes, materials to create an environment conducive to organisms that will break down the poops.

 

[Folly's place]

I've noticed that the newer folks using sand are also scooping poo daily! Small flocks, new people, daily cleanup. Most of us old fogies

with larger flocks (60 right now) use deep litter and shovel it out two or three times a year. It's great fertilizer! Mary

 

[PapaChaz]

I've noticed that the newer folks using sand are also scooping poo daily! Small flocks, new people, daily cleanup. Most of us old fogies

with larger flocks (60 right now) use deep litter and shovel it out two or three times a year. It's great fertilizer! Mary

no kidding! Who wants to have to go scoop a couple hundred sq ft of sand every couple of days? I have sand and pdz in my poop tray, and do it twice a week. takes 6-8 minutes and that's more work than I really want to put in, LOL

 

[aart]

Quote: Ditto Dos^^^

I am down to 15 birds again, only scooping every 2-3 days....but when I had 26 the poop board scooping got old pretty fast.
If I had more birds(and I would if I had a bigger coop) don't think I'd even be using a poop board.

 

[PapaChaz]

Ditto Dos^^^

I am down to 15 birds again, only scooping every 2-3 days....but when I had 26 the poop board scooping got old pretty fast.
If I had more birds(and I would if I had a bigger coop) don't think I'd even be using a poop board.

I'm down to 10 right now. May go back up a few if I can find a few marans to give me some dark brown eggs, once I start getting blue eggs, I may down size some of my ameraucanas too, depending on how quickly I can sell eggs..... When I had the other 4, (that were all roosters) I had to scoop the poop every 2 to 3 days as well, I can't imagine having to do that for my 220 sq ft run.........