Run question

[Crazyladybulldog]

New chicken owner of ten these chickens were raised in wire rabbit cages we inherited from hubbies uncle that passed so they are happy campers. I do have a question we built a 8x24 have a run that is 16 ft long covered run we use riverbank sand as base. So my question is it stays damp all the time going to try to mix some ag lime to see if it dries it up and how do you clean out the poop in the run since the chickens scratch around in the Sand and break up the waste we have a sifter rake but all it does is sift and all the sand and if any waste falls back on the ground need recommendations on what to do please

 

[neo71665]

Remove sand, it holds water and turns into a mess with chickens pooping in it.

 

[Crazyladybulldog]

Remove sand, it holds water and turns into a mess with chickens pooping in it.

It doesn’t get wet from rain it is a covered run just damp from moisture from the air and I have read that riverbank sand was the best to use

 

[Crazyladybulldog]

It doesn’t get wet from rain it is a covered run just damp from moisture from the air and I have read that riverbank sand was the best to use

And we have clay ground so sand was best options

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

And we have clay ground so sand was best options

How deep is the sand base? The moisture is coming the atmosphere, where are located? Does the sand drip water when a scoop is removed?

 

[Crazyladybulldog]

How deep is the sand base? The moisture is coming the atmosphere, where are located? Does the sand drip water when a scoop is removed?

I live in Texas and about 4 inches deep and no it doesn’t drip water when I scoop but it clumps a little in scoop but still sifts when you shake scoop I purchased a yard of riverbank sand and that’s what we put in there at least that’s what he said I was buying it does stay shaded all of the time as well

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

I live in Texas and about 4 inches deep and no it doesn’t drip water when I scoop but it clumps a little in scoop but still sifts when you shake scoop I purchased a yard of riverbank sand and that’s what we put in there at least that’s what he said I was buying it does stay shaded all of the time as well

So it probably dries in summer. Unless it's really wet to the point of dripping when you sift the sand I would not worry about it. Your chickens will enjoy the cool sand when they are dusting themselves. If it's to wet they will get off the ground so provide roosts or stumps to stand on.

 

[DobieLover]

And we have clay ground so sand was best options

I'm on hardpan clay and use wood chips. Works great. Cold composts to break down the poop (and wood chips) and gives the flock something to scratch around in during the winter when they are locked in the run.

 

[StinkyAcres]

And we have clay ground so sand was best options

Clay holds water so I wonder if the ground is keeping the water from draining out of the sand.

With an organic matter litter, like the wood chips @DobieLover recommended, very little run maintenance is necessary as the litter helps break down the poop into soil - a lot like what happens on a forest floor.

 

[neo71665]

It doesn’t get wet from rain it is a covered run just damp from moisture from the air and I have read that riverbank sand was the best to use

I'm in the delta of southern arky. We have clay hardpan. I live 4 miles from a river and could get all the free sand I could ever want if it worked. For that matter if it worked every production chicken house around here would be using it instead of rice hulls they use here. Sand isn't good for chicken runs or coops. The poop doesn't break down and it starts to stink and binds the sand together so it won't drain. You can search on here and it's been discussed into the ground over the years. Everybody that tries it ends up abandoning the idea. Normally they argue with us about how great sand drains then a few months into summer they are asking why their coop stinks so badly and/or how to get rid of all the flies.

I ended up getting a wood chipper and making my own chips from downed limbs and tops from trees I cut for firewood. The poop breaks down and I toss it on my garden when I clean out.