Sand??

[Crow-ded house]

Ok thanks all. We were going to get sand tomorrow but after all the advice, I will forage thru the pasture and get the fixings for deep litter. The Mr just mowed out there and there are always twigs etc out there. Plus I have some pine shavings to help start. I will have to spread out pasture finds to dry though.

 

[classicsredone]

When we had an A-frame coop with a run underneath, and we were not able to move it due to weather, we started using sand. We also put sand under the perch in the coop. It makes poop removal super easy. Yes, you will need to top it off. Yes, it can help amend the soil and improve drainage, unless you are on heavy clay. In that case, the sand can make things a bit worse. We just avoided using sand in the swampy part of our yard.

 

[Crow-ded house]

Our ground is a weird clay dirt mixture so not sure which to use. We have 5 in one run and 4 in another. Hmmmm maybe just do half the runs sand other half dlm and time will let me know.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I live in a humid area and it has been raining a LOT here. Personally, I love sand for the coop, but I would not put it in the run. We also have that sandy, clay soil. I threw in some sand one day, just for them to dust bathe in. It rained the next day and it turned as hard as cement, after they had dug in it, mixing it with the dirt.
If you have access to dead leaves, thay is what I use now, and it works much better! I throw in dead leaves, twigs, grass clippings, dried pibe needles, etc. Basically the same stuff on the floor of our woods. It helps with the smell and drainage, and they love digging in it.

 

[Crow-ded house]

In the coop I use a pine straw mix. The coops are elevated and there are removeable trays with floor tile and clean up is easy. Just remove trays dump contents wipe down and return. I am gatherin stuff from pasture and will start building the deep litter after it dries. It might take awhile to get it all built up. Wish I started last fall when more dead leaves on the ground.

 

[blackdog043]

It might take awhile to get it all built up.

A little at a time is fine. If you can get some natural wood chips(not dyed), it would be a good start to build up from.
Here's mine after I added stuff and before the chickens got to it.

 

[beccaWA]

I would never use sand. From what I've heard, it turns into a big mess. Also, sand is HOT if there's sun on it and will burn the chicken's feet. Much prefer deep litter. If turned every so often, it turns to nice compost and gives them something to do digging around in it. (Less digging/turning for you!)

 

[rosemarythyme]

It might take awhile to get it all built up. Wish I started last fall when more dead leaves on the ground.

It does take time to build up to the amount of materials listed - so my run the first full year did get muddy and swampy and unpleasant. Live and learn!

I didn't save dried leaves that first year and really regretted it later (I threw it in the yard waste bin, what a waste!) and then didn't get wood chips for months after that. I used to toss out grass clippings, weed debris, etc. Now it all goes into the run and builds up, little by little. We had enough rain this spring to flood the creek next to the house as well as the driveway, but the chicken run stayed about 95% puddle free through all that thanks to the litter build up.

 

[Crow-ded house]

Lol we started gathering material yesterday. Hubby is gonna save lawn clippings and I am on the lookout for anything in ditches that I can rake up, bag, dry out and toss in.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I started deep litter last summer after using a mix of sand/ dirt for 24 years. After a week of rain it is now 4 inches of hard pan & mud over my kennel pipes. I put a lot of stuff in there, leaves, garden plants, straw & other things & it still does not stay light & fluffy like everyone shows. May go back to more sand after I redo the 350 square foot run this summer.