Sand floor...thank you!

[Marcymom3]

My run had sand in it, but the coop has pine shavings. Using a kid's toy rake, I try to get the big poops out of the coop every couple of weeks and add a light layer of fresh shavings. The coop is small...4' x 4' and I am happy to say that the coop isn't at all stinky. For my 11' x 11' run, I put down about 2" of sand, and my chickens really liked it. I used a leaf rake once a week or so and it has been pretty good. But soon it will need to be replenished. To be honest I have no idea what happened to to all that sand, except that they've worked it into the soil over the summer and then the rains came. The run is not covered. Don't mean to spam your post, but may I ask a question? Do you all keep your runs covered? Would a tarp over the top do?

Love your pictures! It looks like a great home for your chickens.

 

[pawsplus]

Quote:
Here's what I did:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=19926-mud-eradication-project

I put down landscaping fabric first, then gravel on top, then sand on top of that. This will keep the sand from being eaten by the soil

All shown in link above.

And I do have a pitched roof frame w/ tarp (made for 10x10 dog runs) on top of my first run.

The new one doesn't have a cover--I'm hoping to keep that one uncovered but you never know.

 

[kuntrygirl]

The aviary in this pic is NOT covered, so you can see what the sand looks like in an uncovered run. There was no prep work done before putting in the sand. I just dumped the sand in on top of the dirt ground and used a rake to level it out. The sand has held up PERFECTLY.

January 2011

September 2011 (After the recent bad weather with Lee)

 

[Ole rooster]

The answer for me on the depth of the sand in the coop, I only have my linoleum 2 inches up the wall. So I used 2 inches along the outside, but it a little more away from the wall.The pop door and the nest boxes are all at 2 inches off the floor. I am really excited at how it's so easy to clean and odor free. I'll see how it goes and might change it one a year. Maybe none. I put 4 inches under the coop for their play area. The run I left dirt with lotsa pine straw falling. I do have a 5X5 area in the run with sand.
They love it under the coop.

And I don't know if you can tell through the door the sand is 2 inches and over.

 

[ChickInDelight]

i put 800 lbs. of play sand in my new duck house (approximately 9 x 9 feet). After the first night, seven ducks made it smell bad.

How do I keep the duck smell under control?

 

[Ole rooster]

Get rid of the ducks. They're just nasty.

 

[arcatamarcia]

Quote:
Absolutely. That's where a lot of the poop is. It's the best.

 

[dwegg]

Some of the chickens were freaked put by it and wouldn't go in last night... Lol but it is super easy to clean..BUT now you see every little poop.

Mine is river sand and under that we have a layer of grey paving sand that has compacted down and my run is totally covered so it never gets wet.

Outside the coop is just pine straw which I live...looks farm(y) for us city folk and is nice and dry and the girls love to scratch around in it.

The sand definitely looks clean and tidy and attractive also.

 

[arcatamarcia]

Quote:
i used beach sand in my coop and run and it works just fine. Personally, I'd probably go with whatever is least expensive. Or the color you like best.

 

[arcatamarcia]

Quote:
I made mine about 4 inches deep. They peck around in it, so if it's too shallow it will get mixed in with the dirt or gravel or whatever else is underneath.