Sand for Run

[alwaysthere4chickens]

We are planning on putting some sand into our run. Can we use play sand? if not, what kinds of sand is fine to use in the run?

 

[alwaysthere4chickens]

I heard that quartz sand is bad because it can hurt the chickens and their lungs, So are their any good types of sand that isn't made from quartz?

 

[3KillerBs]

For the most part sand = quartz. I've never heard anything about it being a problem but if it were no one would be able to keep chickens in the entire Carolinas-Georgia sandhills and coastal plain area because it's all quartz sand.

 

[speedy2020]

We have play sand run for 4-5 years. It rain a lot of here in Washington State. The run become very stingy and muddy after the rain. The sand only good for couple years and plugged up do to chicken poop. We now use wood chips and plan to add more every 3-6 years as need. The wood chips is free. The old wood chips will turn into soil and can be use for your garden.

 

[aart]

My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

 

[2Old2Crow]

Allegedly play sand is dustier. Construction sand is more coarse. That’s what I use.