Sand in coop

[Ruggergirl29]

I want to put sand in my coop what sand is the best for the chickens and should I also lay some hay down as well ?

 

[KCalhoun]

I use a coarse play sand in my enclosed runs. Everything I've read says use construction sand or river sand......well, if I could afford it I would. This sand that I use is not "dusty" and it rakes really good. I don't use hay cause I sprinkle DE on the sand and all my kiddos can dust bathe wherever they want. I'm sure the sand I use is not the "correct" sand to use but it works for me!!!

 

[Ann With A Plan]

I looked into that the other day and read that the beach sand was the best. I took two 5 gal buckets down to my local landscaping company and filled them up. It only cost me $3.50 per bucket.
I also learned that some people will put that on the ground so water will soak in, but some also use ground straw because it's a good absorbant. So, I use the sand in the dust bath and the straw on the ground. That way it doesn't smell, and absorbs moisture, and it'll bread down into the soil eventually.

 

[aart]

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.
- 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.
-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.