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Runs & Sand...A WARNING!!!

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by Rare Feathers Farm, Nov 3, 2009.

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  1. Nov 3, 2009 #1
    Rare Feathers Farm

    Rare Feathers Farm Overrun With Chickens

    13,104
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    Apr 1, 2008
    Pleasant Valley, (Okanogan) WA
    My Coop
    Just so everyone is clear on this...I have six coops with six runs. All are different sizes. The largest run is 8' wide x 24' long. The smallest is 3' wide x 6' long. I spent $41.69 on 500lbs of play sand from Home Depot. It barely did my Sumatra & Crevecoeur pens. Frustrated, I made some phone calls & discovered the local sand/gravel place sells "truck loads" (your truck) for $17.50 It's a heavy concrete mix type sand with very little gravel in it. And it drains wonderfully!!!

    I went down and they first asked what kind of truck I had. I told him a Chevy and he smiled and asked what size? I told him a 2500HD and he said, OH that will work! And filled my truck. It didn't look like nearly enough sand but it did make the truck ride differently.

    I got home & had previously shoveled about 6" of dirt/poo out of each run and "prepped" them for sand, raking them smooth and leveling everything out.

    I did three smaller runs and then started on the larger run. I only got about 1/3 of the way down before I ran out of sand. I went down for another truck load, racing the sun as I was quickly running out of daylight! I got another load and the guy seemed impressed that I'd shoveled that much sand in a few hours, alone. Interested, I asked him how much (weight) that sand was. His reply was 2,600 pounds (per load)! [​IMG]

    So after shoveling 5,200lbs of sand into SIX runs yesterday--I can barely MOVE today! LOL Husband was impressed and replied that I must have "really wanted that done." LOL The runs look MUCH better already!
     
  3. Nov 3, 2009 #2
    crazy huhn

    crazy huhn Chillin' With My Peeps

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    May 24, 2008
    Wow. Nice job. You need a hot tub and your hubbie should take you out for dinner. I am sure your birds appreciate all your hard dedicated work.
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2009
  5. Nov 3, 2009 #3
    4boysmama

    4boysmama Out Of The Brooder

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    Jan 30, 2009
    NE Indiana
    Very impressive! I have done that before with mulch, when my hubby had knee surgery. I DID want it done, so I did it! [​IMG]

    Now go take some Ibuprofen![​IMG]:sick
     
  7. Nov 3, 2009 #4
    Bridget399

    Bridget399 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Apr 8, 2009
    South Western PA
    You should post a pic of all your hard work... BTW my run needs done next! [​IMG]
     
  9. Nov 3, 2009 #5
    Rare Feathers Farm

    Rare Feathers Farm Overrun With Chickens

    13,104
    30
    323
    Apr 1, 2008
    Pleasant Valley, (Okanogan) WA
    My Coop
    Quote:LOL he excused my lack of getting other chores done, at least for yesterday! I was supposed to rake some leaves, re-cover the hay stack and take some stuff to the dump. Oops! I did take a hot bath which helped!
     
  11. Nov 3, 2009 #6
    Rare Feathers Farm

    Rare Feathers Farm Overrun With Chickens

    13,104
    30
    323
    Apr 1, 2008
    Pleasant Valley, (Okanogan) WA
    My Coop
    Quote:LOL Yeah, I am afraid to take any more--I'll end up with liver failure, LOL
     
  13. Nov 3, 2009 #7
    Rare Feathers Farm

    Rare Feathers Farm Overrun With Chickens

    13,104
    30
    323
    Apr 1, 2008
    Pleasant Valley, (Okanogan) WA
    My Coop
    Quote:Oh, I will. The problem is that it's dark when I leave in the mornings & it's dark when I get home. So it will have to be this weekend before I can be out in the daylight! LOL

    Oh and [​IMG] about YOUR runs, LOL
     
  15. Nov 3, 2009 #8
    Freckle Face Farm

    Freckle Face Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Jan 1, 2009
    Florida
    I was thinking of doing that for my silkie run with sugar sand(play sand) That way there feet stay clean..I bet you are sore thats a lot of work.Bet it looks great [​IMG]
     
  17. Nov 3, 2009 #9
    swheat

    swheat The Bantam Barn

    1,790
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    Mar 18, 2008
    Alabama
    My Coop
    Hey, soak in the hot water again tonight with some epsom salts. Or, if you want to work it out, come help me do mine [​IMG]

    I have 12 runs 5 feet wide X 9 feet long, and 2 are 10 feet x 10feet.

    Really, I hope your soreness goes away quickly. [​IMG]
     
  19. Nov 3, 2009 #10
    HenPen

    HenPen Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Apr 29, 2009
    New Hampshire
    Oh I feel your pain..... I Shoveled 7 tons of Stone in my yard for drainage(not in my run/coop) but I plan to do sand for the the run and I am NOT looking forward to it.
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2009
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