UK weather not withstanding sand on the bottom of coop, HELP! need advice

[skywalker786]

Hi

I I have read all the post and this long URL (https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should) about putting sand at the bottom of my coop. Living in Britain the weather is not consistent, it rains a lot, sometimes 3/ 4 times in a week, when it does the chicken poo gets mixed into the sand and it is hard to removed it. So in 3 weeks the new sand I put in is mixed, dissolved in chicken poo. If I keep replacing the sand every 3 weeks it will defeat the objective of easy cleaning and picking up dry poo and increase cost of new sand.

Q1. So what do people do when it rains constantly like UK and the poo gets mixed & dissolved in the sand?

Q2. Also the poo which has been mixed into the sand with the constant rain is it safe for the chickens to live and walk around in? does it contain bacteria etc? I've seen them peck at the sand and poo.

I just don't want to keep replacing sand after every 3 weeks

Thanks
S

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You might want to try posting in the Sand threads and the Coop-Run design forum to see what other people who use sand in wet climates do https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

I had the same problem, sand just turned into stinky cement. I use plain dirt, and if it is too muddy add straw or hay on top for them to walk around on and scratch up - they really enjoy it. My run is big enough that I just leave it in there and it breaks down on it's own.

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! I hope someone in that thread can help. I use sand in my coop also but here in California it doesn't rain that much. Good luck to you.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I use sand, but we have been having such a drought, I have no idea what wet sand looks like anymore!!

Good luck and I hope you can get this solved soon. Welcome to our flock!

 

[chickie farmer]

Are you able to put a roof over the sand that's in the run?

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[EggresiveAli]

Hi I'm from Scotland, I have a roofed run to prevent the chooks getting wet.

 

[gander007]