Sand or deep litter for a warmer coop?

[sweetater22]

I wouldn't use any sand at all start with aged wood chips, grass clippings, garden waste, leaves, small twigs, kitchen waste, to a depth of at least 6-8 inches to start, and add more carbon materials if any ammonia smell is noticed. The green matter will come from the manure and the worms and good bugs will take care of the break down. You will not have to clean out nearly as often maybe once a year and will have the most beautiful black compost you have ever seen. As well you are providing the most healthy bedding possible for your flock in my opinion.

 

[aart]

Shavings and poop boards.
A dry coop is a 'warmer' coop.

 

[jreardon1918]

Shavings and poop boards.
A dry coop is a 'warmer' coop.

X2

 

[SonoranChick]

*Disclaimer...I'm a desert girl and sand is a way of life...*
I use sand in the run, and I LOVE it. It's so easy to clean, my girls are in dirt-bath heaven, and it's free for me to get more when I need to. I like using medium that is natural to my environment. Of course it can get dusty! I could see this being a problem if it is kept in an enclosed area, so ventilation is of utmost importance.

 

[lazy gardener]

Im thinking about putting down sand at the base then Deep litter on top of the sand in the RUN. I figure I would probably need to clean it out 2 or 3 times a year. Is this a good plan with sand as the base?

What is your reasoning for using the sand? If you have a drainage problem, maybe. However, the sand will otherwise fight against the purpose of a DL. When you use DL, ideally, it should be directly on top of the soil. That way, the beneficial microbes, worms and insects can easily move from soil to DL and do their magic. A layer of sand will make that more difficult, and also make it more difficult for the DL to have enough moisture for it to work well. NO you should not have to remove DL from your run at all, unless you are harvesting some of that wonderful compost for your gardens. The greater difficulty is keeping the DL deep enough b/c it tends to simply melt into the soil.

 

[aart]

*Disclaimer...I'm a desert girl and sand is a way of life...*
I use sand in the run, and I LOVE it. It's so easy to clean, my girls are in dirt-bath heaven, and it's free for me to get more when I need to. I like using medium that is natural to my environment. Of course it can get dusty! I could see this being a problem if it is kept in an enclosed area, so ventilation is of utmost importance.

This is the only climate where using sand as bedding makes sense.
It's dry.... and hot, so ventilation is probably already abundant for the dust aspect.

 

[SonoranChick]

Thank you @aart for reminding me, I forgot to add...dryness is so important. I would not keep sand if I lived in a wet environment. My sand is dry at all times, and is either turned slowly or removed completely if it gets wet.

 

[nminusyplusm]

This is the only climate where using sand as bedding makes sense.
It's dry.... and hot, so ventilation is probably already abundant for the dust aspect.

I'm also a desert girl and I use DL in the run and now the coop too. I have enough dust where I live, don't need any more!

 

[nminusyplusm]

DL. I've visited sand floored coops, and found that while they had the appearance of cleanliness, the air quality set my lungs off for an entire day of misery, (from a 5 minute visit) while I can spend plenty of time in my DL coop without issue. Sand is a poor insulator, while leaves, hay, straw, even shavings are better insulators.

x2!

 

[aart]

I'm also a desert girl and I use DL in the run and now the coop too.

I imagine you have to might sometimes have to add moisture too keep it 'cooking'.