BrianR32GTR
In the Brooder
Hey everyone,
So I have been reading a lot on here about using sand and its really starting to peak my interest. Our coop/run are newly built and im still really fresh to the backyard chicken world and I am learning more and more tricks every day. Ive been reading a lot about using sand inside and outside of the coop for easy maintenance and just overall being a good option.
Currently our run is awful. Its just dirt and when it rains it gets all muddy leaving a really bad environment for our girls. I have been thinking of many different options. Originally my plan was to do have of it sod and half of it mulch. My fear is that the sod is just going to be killed before it even grows and takes to the soil and will become a mud pit again. After reading a bunch im now leaning towards doing the whole run with sand however I have some concerns. For one my girls are just overcoming a cold they had from a really cold night we encountered last week so my concern is that maybe they will be more prone to respiratory problems and maybe sand will affect them when / if it blows around.(Side note: Being new I didn't know I should have them on electrolytes and was told that would probably be the reason they got sick so easily, They now have access to fresh water with electrolytes daily! Any other tips to keep their immune systems tough will be greatly appreciated just inbox me!!)
My second concern about sand is my run is only covered my chicken wire and hardware cloth (to keep hawks away) and therefor does get rained on. Will the sand be clumpy and stay wet for too long? Does it stick to them and cause illnesses etc?
Basically those are my 2 main concerns. Right now for the inside of my coop we are using Pine Shavings however clean up and keeping it smelling fresh is becoming a pain and is more of an expense than I'd like. So chances are I'm going to be using sand inside as well for easier cleanup. For now I hung up Vanilla car freshners which I read would keep flies away, I didnt believe it so I decided to give it a try and to my amaze our flys have cut back at least 80%! Im amazed that it worked and will continue to use them forever!
Anyways any advice and opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks again "peeps"
,
Brian W.
So I have been reading a lot on here about using sand and its really starting to peak my interest. Our coop/run are newly built and im still really fresh to the backyard chicken world and I am learning more and more tricks every day. Ive been reading a lot about using sand inside and outside of the coop for easy maintenance and just overall being a good option.
Currently our run is awful. Its just dirt and when it rains it gets all muddy leaving a really bad environment for our girls. I have been thinking of many different options. Originally my plan was to do have of it sod and half of it mulch. My fear is that the sod is just going to be killed before it even grows and takes to the soil and will become a mud pit again. After reading a bunch im now leaning towards doing the whole run with sand however I have some concerns. For one my girls are just overcoming a cold they had from a really cold night we encountered last week so my concern is that maybe they will be more prone to respiratory problems and maybe sand will affect them when / if it blows around.(Side note: Being new I didn't know I should have them on electrolytes and was told that would probably be the reason they got sick so easily, They now have access to fresh water with electrolytes daily! Any other tips to keep their immune systems tough will be greatly appreciated just inbox me!!)
My second concern about sand is my run is only covered my chicken wire and hardware cloth (to keep hawks away) and therefor does get rained on. Will the sand be clumpy and stay wet for too long? Does it stick to them and cause illnesses etc?
Basically those are my 2 main concerns. Right now for the inside of my coop we are using Pine Shavings however clean up and keeping it smelling fresh is becoming a pain and is more of an expense than I'd like. So chances are I'm going to be using sand inside as well for easier cleanup. For now I hung up Vanilla car freshners which I read would keep flies away, I didnt believe it so I decided to give it a try and to my amaze our flys have cut back at least 80%! Im amazed that it worked and will continue to use them forever!
Anyways any advice and opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks again "peeps"
Brian W.
