Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[ChickenAl]

Anyone out there use sand in their chicken run? I saw it mentioned on a few coop pages and I was thinking about it for the new run. The run will be approximately 5'x8' and on ground that has been picked completely clean. People have said that the sand dries faster than dirt, and since we're not putting a roof on the run, I thought sand might work well.

I plan to include a dusting box, which will be under a shelf I'm going to put in the run to give them more places to "travel" to when locked in. I'm also including a swing and a ladder. Maybe a half-court basketball court and foosball table too...

Yup, sand does dry faster than dirt, and it doesn't make sticky mud either. I have used it since the beginning in the run and love it. Occasionly I add pine shavings to absorb anything and some DE too. One important thing is not to use playsand. Use the builders grade which is a courser type of sand and it even has a little gravel in it that they can use for grit. The playsand supposedly is not good for them. I can't remember why, though. The all purpose stuff at the HD is what I use. It comes in sacks of 60lbs, and its cheap enough to add more to the run on a regular basis. They tend to scratch a lot of out the sides of the run. Our run is 4'x8 and it took about 500 lbs of sand initially. I did dig it deeper and added more later on. Suzanne, I have to say that Bobby is a master coop builder. It looks great!!

 

[smkchick]

Yup, sand does dry faster than dirt, and it doesn't make sticky mud either. I have used it since the beginning in the run and love it. Occasionly I add pine shavings to absorb anything and some DE too.
One important thing is not to use playsand. Use the builders grade which is a courser type of sand and it even has a little gravel in it that they can use for grit. The playsand supposedly is not good for them. I can't remember why, though. The all purpose stuff at the HD is what I use. It comes in sacks of 60lbs, and its cheap enough to add more to the run on a regular basis. They tend to scratch a lot of out the sides of the run. Our run is 4'x8 and it took about 500 lbs of sand initially. I did dig it deeper and added more later on.
Suzanne, I have to say that Bobby is a master coop builder. It looks great!!

Thanks for the info, Al, and the compliments. I have to take more pictures tomorrow morning. Bobby added shelves and made 4 nest boxes. The interior is 99% done.

Good news! Bobby's friend Peter is taking not only the 3 chicks he said he wanted, but most likely our old coop, too. Yay!! (I'll miss the EE though. What a cutie pie!)

 

[Toxic Chicken]

Such cute chick pictures, I love it.
Can't wait for my new chicks!
My girls are so big already at 7 weeks
they change to fast.

 

[goldeneggtees]

That's great news Suzanne, I was worried about introducing yet another chick!

I can't believe the little Bo is already crowing, such a cute little thing!

Oh! That pic of the chicks in the car is tooooo cute and your girls are adorable.

 

[smkchick]

Heather, the chicks in the convertible made me giggle. All the pictures were great. I love to see how everyone's kids are so into the chick thing.

Donna, again I got caught up in things - tutoring, grocery shopping, cooking, etc. etc. Today my day is fully booked - school, then my after school job. I have PT after school tomorrow - can I try to get there around 4:30 - 5:00 on Tuesday?? Peter's coming for the chicks/coop sometime Tuesday and I have to be here for that, but I think that will be a little later.

Bobby's going to get all the tools, etc. out of the coop today so we can put the final touches on and introduce the girls to their new home. Can't wait to see how that goes! Can't really put them on lockdown until the new run is finished, but we have all the materials to do that.

I can't believe how quickly Bobby got this all finished. I have to think of a suitable thank-you gift for him. Maybe a plane ticket somewhere away from chickens!!

Oh yeah, and Gladys the problem child has taken to escaping to the front yard (literally greener pastures). We have to figure out how she's doing it. Always something...

 

[queenchick16]

I think you should have a ribbon cutting and a bottle of bubbly on hand Everything and everyone looks great

Heather, the chicks in the convertible made me giggle. All the pictures were great. I love to see how everyone's kids are so into the chick thing.

Donna, again I got caught up in things - tutoring, grocery shopping, cooking, etc. etc. Today my day is fully booked - school, then my after school job. I have PT after school tomorrow - can I try to get there around 4:30 - 5:00 on Tuesday?? Peter's coming for the chicks/coop sometime Tuesday and I have to be here for that, but I think that will be a little later.

Bobby's going to get all the tools, etc. out of the coop today so we can put the final touches on and introduce the girls to their new home. Can't wait to see how that goes! Can't really put them on lockdown until the new run is finished, but we have all the materials to do that.

I can't believe how quickly Bobby got this all finished. I have to think of a suitable thank-you gift for him. Maybe a plane ticket somewhere away from chickens!!

Oh yeah, and Gladys the problem child has taken to escaping to the front yard (literally greener pastures). We have to figure out how she's doing it. Always something...

 

[Toxic Chicken]

My chicken math:
Ordered 6 chicks the first time (only 2 lived )
Getting sent 6 more chicks (because of above issue)
Getting 6 hatching eggs

SEE.... It's only 6
six only six !!!!!!

 

[ChickenAl]

My chicken math:
Ordered 6 chicks the first time (only 2 lived )
Getting sent 6 more chicks (because of above issue)
Getting 6 hatching eggs

SEE.... It's only 6
six only six !!!!!!

And to think they don't teach these things to kids in school today?

 

[smkchick]

My chicken math:
Ordered 6 chicks the first time (only 2 lived )
Getting sent 6 more chicks (because of above issue)
Getting 6 hatching eggs
SEE.... It's only 6
six only six !!!!!!

Works for me!

 

[smkchick]

And to think they don't teach these things to kids in school today?

I do!