Sand in run

[Tuhmu]

Hello all, I've been looking into this sand in the run idea and have been thinking about giving it a go possibly this weekend (weather permitting). right now my run is a barren wasteland with a few lone twigs and feathers....and poop. From what I've read, if you have sand in there you can treat it like a giant litter box which sounds great! My question is, how deep of sand should the sand be? Will I have to dig some dirt out? right now I have a 2x4 running along the length of the run. so i'm thinking that ill have to dig it out a little...for some reason 6" seems to stick in my head on the depth (must have read it somewhere maybe??)

second question is, during the summer, will it be to hot for them to walk on? My run is on the north and west side of my coop, and I live in N. Dakota (we get the weather extreams of everything it seems) so there is shade and in the plans right now are tree rows on the west side of the coop ( of course this wont make a difference until like 10 years down the road) and maybe like a 6'-8' on the south side of the run (if the tree gobbling goats, don't have there way with it).

Third question which is unrelated to the sand thing, is, has anyone planted a tree IN their run? If one were to do such a thing, would it get burnt from all the poopoo or would the hens dig up the roots?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

It would be FAR easier/faster to put some more boards around the sides than to dig anything out, unless you simply WANT to level or slope the surface

I'd put 6" to help with drainage
One Cubie yard will cover a 10 X 10 area about 3" deep

Don't worry about it getting too hot.
The birds will just dig down a little to reach a cooler layer if they are uncomfortable

I also wouldn't plant anything in a run.
If you want a tree for shade, plant it OUTSIDE the run.
Trees don't last forever and one inside a small fenced area will eventually be a problem

 

[Tuhmu]

It would be FAR easier/faster to put some more boards around the sides than to dig anything out, unless you simply WANT to level or slope the surface

Oh...duh. Amazing how something so simple just slipped my mind lol. That would be by far easier that shoveling around in that run....though I may have to do some, as there's a pretty big slope, though that probably wouldn't be the end of the world, since the water would then drain out.

As far as sand goes, I'm lucky because in my parents pasture there's a natural sand pit, so unlimited sand! yay.

For the tree portion, I'm thinking of have on one the outside of the south of my fence then landscape the entire outside with timbers and rocks ( see them scratch that out!...a common practice with my flowerbed and the wood chips)