Sand?

[navychick]

Another newby question....
If we go with sand as a coop liter base, how deep should it be? Do you buy the bagged play sand sold in box stores? Does it attract sand fleas?
Thanks -Tamara

 

[chicmom]

Hello!

I've found sand to be the very best chicken run materials. If you buy the bags of play sand, you'll pay alot more, than if you go to a sand and gravel and get a load scooped into your pickup truck (or a friend's if you don't have one).

Last time my husband bought sand for me, it was only $16.00, and it coverd an 8x8 run and a 6x6 run nicely. It was probably about 3 to 4 inches deep.

I don't think we've ever had fleas in the sand, to my knowledge. I like to go around with a kitty litter scoop and get the poo and debris out a couple of times a week, and I'll rake it up after a rain to sort of fluff it up and help it dry easily. In the heat of the summer, I try and scoop it daily. That keeps flies and smells away....

 

[bryan99705]

What about a old grain shovel with 1/4" holes drilled in it to sift out the poo?

 

[therowdydog]

Don't sand fleas only live at the beach? Of course my only experiences with sand have been sand boxes, but never got sand fleas, thankfully.

 

[zengrrl]

We'll be using sand in our design, inside and in the run. I imagine using the food grade DE would cut down on any flea problems that may occur. Def skip the bags of playsand, thats top dollar.