sand dust

[Dhkoenig]

Hi All. We have a covered run (2 big ones - 10x12 and 12x16 with hardware cloth sides and dirt bottom. We have mostly just kept the dirt. I am a serial scooper (both in the coop and the run) I dunno - I just feel better when I scoop them up every day. We got new young pullets and so I decided to put chopped straw in the runs and quickly decided this was not a good idea. First it was hard to find the poops so they got buried under there and chicks poop a LOT. So like any good suburban farm mom, I raked it all out and am back to the dirt. I decided I want to go the sand route for many reasons. I just went to the quarry and they had tons of kinds - I settled on concrete sand, which I read is best. But EVERY one of the sands I scooped up with my hands generated a plume of dust. They don't add anything to their sand, it is pure stone of whatever variety ground to various stages of gravel down to sand. The gravel was too big so the best texture was the concrete sand but if just reaching in and grabbing a handful generated dust, how can I prevent that dust from going into their respiratory system? Especially cuz chickens like to kick and dig so I feel like it will be constant dust but so many people use it and swear by it and I am not hearing a lot of stories of lung issues. Is there something I should be doing to the sand before I put it in there? Get it wet? Anyone have any pointers? I know I will get some people telling me sand is terrible and it will kill my chickens but lets just focus on the answers of people who are in favor of sand and what they do about the dust,. Thanks Everyone!

 

[nuthatched]

You're typically not going to get anything but truth and good advice from people on here, this isn't facebook, how you choose to receive the info is up to you. :]
The dust will be fine, some people rinse the sand first to prevent it but a little won't hurt them, they're supposed to bathe in dust. You can mist it a little to control dust and the make a cool, damp area, perfect for hot days.

 

[raingarden]

The biggest challenge will be keeping it dusty. Dusty means dry, If sand that is full of poop ever gets damp it will come alive with flies and odor.

Dust bathing does not cause respiratory problems.

 

[Dhkoenig]

You're typically not going to get anything but truth and good advice from people on here, this isn't facebook, how you choose to receive the info is up to you. :]
The dust will be fine, some people rinse the sand first to prevent it but a little won't hurt them, they're supposed to bathe in dust. You can mist it a little to control dust and the make a cool, damp area, perfect for hot days.

that's awesome advice thanks! And having no experience with sand, one of our runs has open sides and the other has one side with a sort-of plexiglass wall so they have someplace to duck and hide when it rains/wind etc...but so if there is a big storm and driving rain etc...and the edges of the run get wet, does it matter as long as there is a dry area? Like what should you do if the sand gets wet from the elements. Sorry for all of the questions.

 

[nuthatched]

that's awesome advice thanks! And having no experience with sand, one of our runs has open sides and the other has one side with a sort-of plexiglass wall so they have someplace to duck and hide when it rains/wind etc...but so if there is a big storm and driving rain etc...and the edges of the run get wet, does it matter as long as there is a dry area? Like what should you do if the sand gets wet from the elements. Sorry for all of the questions.

You're welcome. unless there's standing water, they should be fine, it will dry quickly, you can turn it over with a rake to help it dry.

 

[Dhkoenig]

The biggest challenge will be keeping it dusty. Dusty means dry, If sand that is full of poop ever gets damp it will come alive with flies and odor.

Dust bathing does not cause respiratory problems.

oh that is great to know - when I saw the cloud of dust go up I pictured it going straight into their little lungs. Thanks for clarifying
I am an OCD pooper scooper so that is good news for me

 

[DobieClose]

Are you happy with your sand? I'm considering it for my new coop that's under construction. I also scoop daily. Supposedly, it's reusable. I just can't quite figure out how to wash and dry that much sand.

 

[Dhkoenig]

Are you happy with your sand? I'm considering it for my new coop that's under construction. I also scoop daily. Supposedly, it's reusable. I just can't quite figure out how to wash and dry that much sand.

We received the truck load day before yesterday but I need my husband's help to get it in there. We are in the midst of a really severe heat wave so he is not too jazzed about doing it right now out there in that heat. We will hopefully put it in there on Monday so I will let you know. My thoughts are to scoop them daily like we usually do if it rains and then take a rake and gently rake it so as not to dig down to the ground but more break up the dampness at the top. Our runs are covered so I imagine only the outer parts will get wet so those might just have to dry a bit on their own. I will let you know!

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

We received the truck load day before yesterday but I need my husband's help to get it in there. We are in the midst of a really severe heat wave so he is not too jazzed about doing it right now out there in that heat. We will hopefully put it in there on Monday so I will let you know. My thoughts are to scoop them daily like we usually do if it rains and then take a rake and gently rake it so as not to dig down to the ground but more break up the dampness at the top. Our runs are covered so I imagine only the outer parts will get wet so those might just have to dry a bit on their own. I will let you know!

I'm a first time chickener and thinking about using course sand in my coop. Could you give me an update? How is it working out for you?

 

[Dhkoenig]

I'm a first time chickener and thinking about using course sand in my coop. Could you give me an update? How is it working out for you?

Hi There - We like it well enough but after a while (I am a daily scooper) I felt like particles of poo (if they step on some during the day etc) were mixed in with the sand and I became germophobic about it. At the time we had nine young ones (only a few months old) and the poop up a storm! So I ended up, after a relatively long period, replacing back with dirt. I figure if there are particles in there that get mixed in it would biodegrade eventually BUTTTT - then I discovered pine pellets. The best thing ever. They are pellets , they almost look like feed for a larger animal) and they turn in to dust when they get wet. They absorb moisture and when the girls poop on them, you can see it really well (so for me great for scooping) and it keeps their feet clean. Even after they turn to dust (after a good horizontal rain) they dry out quickly and are so easy to clean. Also LOVE hemp for the coop. Smells so fresh and so easy to scoop (I am not a deep litter method person tho). https://shop.smallpetselect.com/pro...2394&nb_ppi=595671714442&nb_placement=&nb_si={sourceid}&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&tw_source=google&tw_adid=304519094607&tw_campaign=1602039342&gclid=CjwKCAjw5dqgBhBNEiwA7PryaJrVHh0KtQB20cFKxtJJ7yuBsZc2lvhXY-PsBs0YWnfV58Di_C0fJRoCBKUQAvD_BwE