Sand in the run.

[Sphynx Kitty]

New chicken mom here, I want to use sand in my run but all I hear is construction sand, I only need a couple bags from Home Depot but they don't know what I am talking about, could someone please post a brand name bag or a picture of the proper bag I should get. Thank you.

 

[Chicken Outfit]

New chicken mom here, I want to use sand in my run but all I hear is construction sand, I only need a couple bags from Home Depot but they don't know what I am talking about, could someone please post a brand name bag or a picture of the proper bag I should get. Thank you.

I'm the husband. We know the sand should be coarse but are inexperienced purchasing the product. Who wants to buy the wrong thing? No one. So, any feedback is helpful. Thanks!

 

[aart]

Not gonna find 'construction' sand in a bag at HD.
Sand 'names' are tricky, mostly colloquial and there's no real standard.
I would suggest you totally rethink using sand at all,
but first more about you and your run.
(Sorry, not what you wanted to hear, eh?)

How big is it, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would be most helpful.
How many chickens do you plan on having?

Also.....Welcome to BYC! @Sphynx Kitty and @Chicken Outfit
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profiles.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Chicken Outfit]

Small run, just 3 chickens to start at most. 3 1/2w x 8l x 3 1/2h.

Updated. I have not so good vision and could barely make out the red circles, etc. Also, she's done some good research and wants to use sand so there's really no talking her out of it. We know it's coarse. We know we can find some bagged. No pickup trucks here so we can forget the loose load. Sorry. I know this isn't helpful and you're trying to be. The issue?? We're seniors and trying like heck to AVOID personal contact. We take the coronavirus very seriously. Thanks.

 

[aart]

We know we can find some bagged.

Just ask for the coarsest sand they have and go with that.
From my experience they don't have but a few choices in bags at HD.
Not much to change out if you find better or change it up later.

 

[speedy2020]

New chicken mom here, I want to use sand in my run but all I hear is construction sand, I only need a couple bags from Home Depot but they don't know what I am talking about, could someone please post a brand name bag or a picture of the proper bag I should get. Thank you.

I added play sand in the run and the coop 5 years ago. The sand don't last long do to rain climate here in the evergreen state. It last about 5 years and become muddy. The run is smell pretty bad. I ended up put 4-6" free woodchips over the run to solve the problem. Will put more new woodchips in the future as need.

 

[BloomBunny]

I think this might be what you want. Has anyone used it? They describe it as washed and graded coarse sand.

I used this tube sand from farm and fleet for an indoor brooder setup, but it's mixed very fine (almost dust) and coarse.

 

[aart]

I think this might be what you want. Has anyone used it? They describe it as washed and graded coarse sand.

Nope, but looks good.
That is it to be used to set pavers, should not have the 'gravel' that general purpose sand might have...and because it's washed should be lower in 'dust'.

 

[Miffny]

We never found construction sand so we used playground sand and I use a kitty litter scoop and a mesh cooking sieve to clean all the poop out every day. We have 5 chookies and it's so clean I can walk in bare feet. Sand is fantastic.

 

[The_Flock]

I agree with Miffny. I used concrete, a special kind of dirt mixture, shavings to try to deal with the water that comes in fall and spring and sand has kept my coop the driest I've ever seen it. I used clean sand for concrete. My neighbour is a dump truck driver and he found it for me. Sometimes in the late fall and winter I have to water it down. But that takes very little water, it's easy to mix in and stays damping for days but still doesn't seem to effect the temp in the coop.
If you were close to me I'd give you some of my sand.