Sand compacting

[Sakmeht]

So we have sand in our run - don't know which kind because my husband picked some up from a guy on Craigslist who was trying to turn his background into a beach and failed miserably - guess the cats were leaving deposits for him! I'm assuming it's a playground sand which I know isn't ideal. The hens have been on it for 3 months now.

So anyway, I was watering our backyard there was a 'whoopsie' and I came out to find standing water in the chicken run - eventually it dried but the left side is really compacted. I took a pitchfork to it and worked it up into some clumps. Will this even back out if the chickens stratch around in it? I know I'll need to replace it eventually with something like a mason sand... thanks for the response!

 

[mrkpero]

I have sand in my run and it's like yours is. It always gets pretty compacted with heavy rains. I rake it daily and the chickens help with this too. I do add a ton of sand each spring to replace what gets compacted and what gets removed with cleaning. Hope this helps!

 

[Ksane]

I've got construction sand and mine compacts every day, too. I have to rake it all the time. So I don't think it's because yours is playsand. I wish now I'd have used playsand.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

It will be fine as soon as it dries well

Sand is sand.
"Play" sand just gets rinsed more

Use the cheapest you can find, because the chickens don't care

 

[Pharm Girl]

I mix the sand with playground bark chips outside in our rainy climate. The chips are thinker, so the chickens can churn things up easier. They also suck up the water.

 

[Sakmeht]

Thanks everyone!

 

[SteveBaz]

yep sand is sand. It gets wet and compresses. Rake it once in a while is required. Poo pick up is real easy.

 

[<3 N.C Chicken Chick <3]

Cat litter works well too

 

[Sakmeht]

Thanks everyone - we'll see how it goes. If it keeps compacting badly, I'll try to find a lighter more 'fluffy' type of sand.

 

[Pharm Girl]

The bark chips work wonders outside too.