Sand question

[grandmaof5]

We were at the beach today and I scooped up a bit of sand, thinking my 3 two-week old girls could use it as grit, which I understand they need if I offer anything other than their starter. My question is whether I should wash the sand first; is there anything in sand from an ocean beach which could harm them? I was thinking that it would be salty, but is that good or otherwise, for them?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

There's probably nothing in it that would hurt them.

 

[1_FnkyFrm]

I would wash the salt off of it....

 

[Ridgerunner]

Chickens cannot handle too much salt. I also would wash the salt out of it.

 

[sunflowerenvy]

if came from the gulf or around florida i would not let them go near it

 

[grandmaof5]

Quote:
lol...nope; I'm in Nova Scotia. That mess hasn't made it this far north... yet


*off to wash the sand. Thanks, guys

 

[brwneggs]

Sand...Would it be ok to give them a sand box? Do they eat it or do they get it in to preen?

 

[1_FnkyFrm]

They use it to bath in to keep cool and for grit.....

 

[brwneggs]

Now I will have to figure out how to put it in the chicken mobile. Maybe some kind of hanging flat planter water full of sand that they can crawl up into? When they make a hole out in the yard, someone always gets pecked on when there is not enough room for others to join in the dirt hole. I am afriad I could not find a planting box big enough for 6 hens and 1 rooeter. Plus it would weight down when moving the chicken mobile.

Any good ideas out there, please send them this way to the new Isa Brown girl. Thanks!

 

[palochknldy]

We use a big metal feeding dish(looks like a big pie dish/slop feeder). 2 of our hens can fit in there together. Since we also have a chicken tractor, it's easy to take it out before moving and if there is a chance of rain, it can come out.