Storing fresh wood chips

[aart]

May I ask why you would not use the sand?

Chicken poop won't break down in sand, even if it's scooped daily.
Sooner or later it become saturated with pulverized poops and when damp will stink to high heaven.
Sand can work OK in arid climates.

My pole barn stays very dry.

Do your chickens poop all over the pole barn floor?

 

[paintedChix]

Any smallish branches w/ leaves & pine straw can go in run portion. Also leaves & pinestraw from your property can go in run & coop.

I use shredded paper & cardboard as well. Leaves in nest boxes.

Our 21 acres of sand stank to high heaven when it rained. Property had been monocropped. In 2015/2016 - when it rained, smelled combo of animal & chemical (not our animals). Often made family & friends ill.

Chicken DLM & tractors over sand have helped immensely. Several free ranged or poultry fenced flocks lost to stray dogs, hawks, owls, coyotes & possibly raccons. Tractors over waste hay & pony manure spots, hay always put in new spots. Sand slowly turning into friable, usable, plantable soil. No more stinky sickness.

Can you tell I'm not a fan of sand?

Edit to add - we are in sandhills of NC. Property straddles 2 counties.