Sand or something else?

[Thedogsbark]

Currently we have just dirt in the chicken run. Inside the coop we have pine chips. We have been talking about getting sand for both the run and coop. Which sands are safe to use, and do any work better than others? Are there many cons to having sand? As this is my first time owning chickens, I'm not sure of what else could work to be put on the ground or inside the coop. What are some other things that would work to put on the ground?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Where are you located? I would say weather would make a difference as to what you choose. I read & wanted to go with sand but it rains alot here & sand gets heavy/hard. A BYC member that had lived here in the past recommended I go with DLM. Boy am I glad I did. It's easy clean & simple maintenance. There are threads/posts on Deep Litter Method.

I also feed FF (fermented feed) so there's less poop & it don't stink plus no feed waste and a whole lot of nutritional & health benefits.

 

[aart]

I'd advise against sand......unless you live in a very arid climate.
It can take weeks/months to find it doesn't work well.

Read some of these:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/2532501/?q=sand&t=post&o=relevance&c[title_only]=1

 

[Thedogsbark]

I live in Oklahoma. We don't get a whole bunch of rain, though we do now and then. I don't think I'm going to be able to talk everyone else out of the sand idea for something else. I kept seeing that constructors sand was good to use. I can't find anything that specifically says constructors sand. So would something like this sand work?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/QUIKRETE-50-lb-All-Purpose-Sand/3048145