Sand Bed Bottom...Pine Shavings Top

[Superior Chicks]

In our new coop:

6x4 Glassboard floor...we are considering a 2" sand botom layer covered by a topcoat of pine shavings of 2-4".

I've never done this before, but I have read alot of posts favoring this method.

Pros and cons appreciated!

Ma

 

[tackyrama]

I would go with just all shavings. It will all get mixed together anyway and then will all have to be replaced eventually. Also shavings will be dryer.

 

[ivan3]

We started using sand because of the turkeys. We initially covered the plywood flooring in both the turkey shed and the chicken coop with scrounged remnants of congoleum covered with straw and pine shavings. The turkeys would fly down from their roost in the morning, hit the straw and shavings, and slide out the door on their butts! We covered the the shed floor with ~3" of sand under the shavings/straw and cured that problem. We then did the same with the coop. Easier to rake and, come spring just that much more sand in the run (add about 40lb. every few months and change out yearly). We clean the coop and shed on a daily basis so have no opinion on use for deep litter, etc. We think the sand compacts a bit when our fat, old, production girls and roo thump down from their roosts in the morning (only about 30" high), maybe keep `em spry a few more years. Sand does help keep the coop and shed drier (very big difference in turkey shed during `mud' season).

 

[Superior Chicks]

I'm leaning toward the sand botttom.

Anyone else.....opinions?

TIA
Ma

 

[Joy1]

I use sand easy to rake also and cuts down on odour.

 

[SunAngel]

I use sand in my coop as well, with shavings on top and straight sand in the run.

On major clean out days, its easy to rake the shavings off the top of the sand and then just sift the remaining shavings and poo out of the sand bottom. I still add some stall dry, but with daily turning, it stays pretty dry in there.