Sand vs Pine Bedding??

[Countryhippie]

I have been using pine bedding for 7 months since I got my 4 hens and I hate it. I hate how dirty it gets and how it stinks and goes every where. I am not a huge fan of he deep liter method, I tried it and it was just awful, I couldn't stand having to clean it out after a few months and I live fairly close to neighbors so I try my best to not have any odor. I was thinking of switching to construction sand as I have read a lot about it. I have a run where I have dirt and barley any grass (they ate it all), I will be adding mulch to the run in a few weeks after the snow stops. I want to use the sand in the coop, I have the Large OverEz chicken coop. They are only in the coop over night and have a large run and are allowed to free range in the yard when I am out there with them. Do you think the sand will work good in the coop or should I continue using the pine bedding? I am interested to hear your preference on this and which bedding is best from the coop. Thank you!

 

[3KillerBs]

Have you read my article on Deep Bedding?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

It seems to me that most people who have had trouble with that method, especially if the problem was odor, either have too little ventilation for moisture and ammonia to properly vent, and/or too many birds for the space (or the volume of litter if the base of the coop is too shallow to allow at least 4-6" bedding to accumulate).

The OverEZ coops, while better built than most prefabs, are notoriously short on ventilation, especially top-level ventilation at the roof peak, and -- like all prefabs -- claim in their advertising to hold 2-3 times the number of chickens that should actually live there.

 

[Brooks_]

I doubt that sand would give better results. Likely worse.

 

[Kiki]

I hate shavings with a passion.

I LOVE peat moss and highly recommend it.

 

[Countryhippie]

Have you read my article on Deep Bedding?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

It seems to me that most people who have had trouble with that method, especially if the problem was odor, either have too little ventilation for moisture and ammonia to properly vent, and/or too many birds for the space (or the volume of litter if the base of the coop is too shallow to allow at least 4-6" bedding to accumulate).

The OverEZ coops, while better built than most prefabs, are notoriously short on ventilation, especially top-level ventilation at the roof peak, and -- like all prefabs -- claim in their advertising to hold 2-3 times the number of chickens that should actually live there.

No I have not read the article. I will check it out. And I totally know that the coop claims to hold way more chickens then possible. I only have 4 hens and the coop is definitely big enough for them. This is their new coop so I haven't tried the method in this one. I actually added more ventilation to the top of the coop because It was very little at the top. The other coop they had, had a lot of ventilation that I put in and did have a thick layer of bedding, it just didn't have windows which I wanted for summer time.That is why I changed coops. I am not sure why it never worked, but thanks for your info!

 

[Sara S]

I love straw, but sand and shavings are my pet peeve

 

[Sara S]

I think it’s your preference, but depending on the ventilation, like said above.

 

[Brooks_]

I hate shavings with a passion.

I LOVE peat moss and highly recommend it.

I have not seen that at TS. Do you get it at the nursery/garden center?

 

[Kiki]

I have not seen that at TS. Do you get it at the nursery/garden center?

Home Depot.

 

[aart]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 8 years.