sand in coop

[myfarm4579]

Hello to all. I currently use sand in my coop and run which I love. Should I add something
Else for the winter like hay or straw/etc in the coop or will just sand be ok?

 

[sunflour]

Guess it depends on your winter weather. Mine are only on sand and it was not a problem last winter in middle GA.

 

[myfarm4579]

Here it can get down to 30-40 below a few nights during winter.

 

[sunflour]

Here it can get down to 30-40 below a few nights during winter.

30-40 BELOW FREEZING…WOW. So glad I'm in a warmer area.

I think you really will need to add some straw or hay in your coop.

Even at low temps here, lowest was 5 F last winter, but we average lows in high 20's to low 30's mostly, largest problem for us was keeping water available. How to accomplish that with subzero will be quite a challenge. The lamp under fount didn't work for us on our colder nights.

I have read chickens are cold tolerant to 20 below, but wouldn't bet on it.

If I lived there, mine would have winter in my garage.

 

[myfarm4579]

This is my first winter with chickens the run is covered with steel roof and sides will be wrapped with 6mill plastic with vent space at top. Coop has plenty of ventilation. Just kind of nervous bout my first winter.

 

[Foghornnmsprisy]

Give them the option of straw. But don't mix it with the sand. Straw is hollow unlike hay, the hollow space acts as a insulater for them. I watched a news show last winter. A few people volunteered to show how miserable a dog left to sleep in freezing conditions would be. They spent the night outside in dog houses. I remember one of the guys mentioning how much better it was when he snuggled down into the straw. He seemed really glad to have it.

 

[myfarm4579]

Ok I will give that a try thanks for the repliesnot sure what I do without this site.

 

[Foghornnmsprisy]

Oh ya buy it early. I had a hard time finding it last year because I waited til it got cold before I bought it.

 

[myfarm4579]

I sure will thanks