Sand for the Coop, Cost? New Question post # 8

[Cats Critters]

I'm planning to put down a couple inches of sand down in my coop to make cleaning easier and for other reasons. My coop is about 10x11, how much sand do I need, what type, where should/could I get it, and about how much will it cost?

 

[Opa]

You will need about 3/4 of a yard. You can buy it in bags for the big box stores but it will be much cheaper if you get it from a landscape supply.

 

[Chieftain]

Opa nailed it....i paid $17 for half of a yard of construction sand, they loaded it in the pickup for me and all I had to do was put down a tarp to get it all. That much sand was about 4 wheelbarrows full, maybe 3 1/2, and loose it was about 4" deep. It packed down by half, and I added another half yard [lus a little more on top of that, and packed it; I also wet it thoroughly in between to make sure it settled completely. I ended up with a sand bed that is slightly over 4" deep over a packed gravel bed for good drainage. The run is also covered so it stays dry.

I've had chooks running around in the run all week, and the sand traps and dessicates all of the droppings very nicely, and there is no smell. I figure I may have to add a bag of sand every few months due to cleaning up and to make up for what the chooks eat for dietary grit.

 

[jennh]

Hmmm, never thought about putting sand in a run. That would probably help keep the mud down, though, huh?

Jen

 

[Opa]

Sand is just about the best thing you can use. I rake it in the summer and remove the small amount of dropping I've collected and add more sand. That way the run just keeps getting better. I look for the spot that they seem to prefer for dusting and I will add a little Sevin and DE to it and mix it in. That way the birds treat themselves for mites and lice.

 

[Amyable]

Here is another good thread on the topic. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=250190

We live a few miles from a small gravel pit. It costs us just $4/yard if we pick it up. If you have the means, call around and see if there is a gravel pit that will load you. Landscapers have to mark it up or charge a lot for delivery.

 

[imtc]

I recently put 2 bags of sand from home depot in my run (10X6) because it was so mushy/muddy wet from rain lately. My run has a concrete bottom so I'm sure that didn't help but so far it's been working GREAT. 2 bags at about $3 per bag covered the run nicely and after getting more rain after the fact I didn't see any mud at all. I may add another bag or two at some point though just to make it a little deeper but so far it's doing what I hoped it would.

 

[Cats Critters]

New Question: what do you use in your nesting boxes, more sand?

 

[Opa]

a variety of materials can be used from straw, hay, wood shavings, and I even use my shredded bills.

 

[Cats Critters]

I'm currently using pine shavings same stuff I'm using as bedding. But If I'm not using it as bedding, I'm not sure if it is worth it.