Sand or Pine shavings??

[chickens really]

I am a new chicken keeper as of this April, 2015. My problem is I am using sand in my coop and run, but it really seems to be causing my hens to sneeze and honk. Not having the same happy benefits other posters seem to be having.
I have a drop board under my roosts. Poop isn't as easy to clean, as with shavings?
Anyone else having the same issues??

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us! I usually just use hay. For the best results, I would recommend posting in the "Coop & Run - Design, Construction, and Maintenance" section.

 

[chickens really]

Thanks!!!
I will clean out the sand today and use a more Chicken friendly flooring in my coop!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I am a huge fan of sand and never had any troubles with sneezing and such. However if your sand is really dusty, it could be causing trouble. Pine shavings can be dusty as well. If your coop and run are ventilated well enough it should all blow away. You could try hosing the sand down to keep the dust down.

Or switch to "cleaned" sand. It is fairly dust free. You can get this at many hardware stores.

I have never used a drop board for poop, so I can't give you any information there.

If your birds have really runny noses, they may have a respiratory ailment going on. You might try some duramycin or denagard in their water. If these don't clear the sneezing up, you might switch to grass hay or straw in the coop.

Good luck and I hope you can figure all this out!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! I too am a sand fan and it has solved many problems for me but I've never had anyone sneezing from it. I use children's play sand for my birds. TwoCrows has left you some great advice on what could be causing your sneezing issues and how to help elevate them.

Wishing you the very best of luck and enjoy BYC

 

[chickens really]

My chickens are not sick!
As the temp is dropping here at night, it would not be good to add moisture to the sand. I live in Carvel, Alberta.
My husband is getting me river sand this week for the run.
Thanks for the reply!

 

[chickens really]

The sand I have is not a washed sand, but strait from a sand pit a friend owns.
I will try washed sand first then?

 

[chickens really]

Thanks!
Chicken keeping is a bit harder than I thought?
Lots to do too keep them all happy and healthy!
Thanks everyone for the input!!

 

[psm1212]

I use sand and love it (play sand purchased at hardware store.) But you will find hundreds of posts on this board that argue both ways. I think you will only know if you try to use shavings as well. Also, experiment with river sand or "clean" sand. I know it is a lot of work up front to keep changing it out, but getting a good solution that works for you will save you an immense amount of work through the years. Good luck.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi! Welcome!

I also use sand, it's a dust free "leveling sand" or sandbox sand that I purchased by the pick up load from a nursery. I find it to be easy to clean as the poop dries out very quickly. However. I live at the exact opposite of the climate range from you here in So Cal, so you might want to consider straw, hay or deep litter. Here are some great articles
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=coop+bedding+&type=40

Here's a link to ask folks in your area what works best for them

https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=+Alberta

Best of luck and if you could send some chilly weather my way...it's 103 here again today!!