Sand for coop litter

[Dishens]

Hi, Does anyone use sand inside their coop? Wondering how you manage it. Do you use on the run as well? Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

Hi, Does anyone use sand inside their coop? Wondering how you manage it. Do you use on the run as well? Thanks!

I use sand/PDZ mix on the poop boards only. It's a life saver. I use a metal kitty litter scoop to clean the boards every morning. The coop is bedded down with pine shavings and the soon to be constructed run will have a thick layer of seasoned wood chips that will get raked weekly or thereabouts.
How large is your coop? How large is your run? Is the run covered and/or well drained? Where are you located on planet Earth? You can update your profile with that general information so it's there every time you post.

 

[harmonyp]

I do not use sand in their coop sleeping area. I use a base of pine shavings, and a light cover of grass hay (I have horses so I have hay available).

My ground is sand, and it works perfectly as the base of my enclosed run. To maintain, I rake it, and add more sand to it when needed.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Was going to use sand, but it all went into their sand box lol. Right now I'm using bedding, but will switch soon as I buy more sand.

 

[jlwquilter]

I use sand on the floor of the coop under the roosting poles. I use 1x6” boards for the roosts so the hens can stand/sit flat footed on them. In the morning I take a bucket of sand and a trowel and roughly cover poop on the boards with sand to dry it out. A bit later after other chores I go back and remove the now dry sandy poop mostly by knocking it down into the sand floor for further raking out.

I like the sand on the floor. As I come and go I kick sand over fresh poop as I see it. Keeps the flies down, stops me walking in every one of the poops, etc.

I live in sandy roads so right now my sand is free.

 

[Dishens]

I use sand/PDZ mix on the poop boards only. It's a life saver. I use a metal kitty litter scoop to clean the boards every morning. The coop is bedded down with pine shavings and the soon to be constructed run will have a thick layer of seasoned wood chips that will get raked weekly or thereabouts.
How large is your coop? How large is your run? Is the run covered and/or well drained? Where are you located on planet Earth? You can update your profile with that general information so it's there every time you post.

I am waiting for my coop. It will be a combination coop and run. This run is covered with an asphalt shingle roof. Total space 6x10. I will also add a larger run with old dog kennel panels I have. Probably 10x30. I will try to add a roof with maybe those corrugated panels.

Updated my info!

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Not seeing your location....here's how to add so it shows up under you avatar:

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-Runs have semi-deep litter, never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[Dishens]

Welcome to BYC!

Not seeing your location....here's how to add so it shows up under you avatar:
View attachment 1800275



What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-Runs have semi-deep litter, never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

This is perfect! Thank you. I added my location info. I’m in CT.

 

[jlwquilter]

I’ve been reading about Sweet PDZ on another thread. I’m going to pick some up at TSC this week and add that into my sandy floor. I have just a tiny bit smell - smells like chicken, not poop.

I found out this morning that using the back of my metal rake to scrape down the wide roost boards, after the sand sprinkle, works like a dream! Fast and easy! Then I use the rake to roughly rake out the big chunks and turn the sand over to bury the rest. Have to see how this turning over part works out as the sand floor is new in the new coop - only been a few days. I’ve used sand before but this is a much bigger coop for me to manage. More birds too so I’m learning and tweaking as I go with the help of all the great ideas on BYC!

 

[aart]

This is perfect! Thank you. I added my location info. I’m in CT.

Still not seeing it...did you scroll down and click 'save changes'?