Using sand in run?

[PotassiumJunkie]

Just got my 2 new hens! Lovely ladies!

I was wondering should I use tarpaulin to cover the run to keep the sand dryer and in better condition? Is this necessary?

Also how deep should the sand be?

Should I mix it with anything else?

The runs on concrete btw

 

[nessa.morg]

Just got my 2 new hens! Lovely ladies!

I was wondering should I use tarpaulin to cover the run to keep the sand dryer and in better condition? Is this necessary?

Also how deep should the sand be?

Should I mix it with anything else?

The runs on concrete btw

I would be careful if you use sand in the run. Mites love sand and in most sand that you buy it has mites in it. I would make sure you look into the sand that you buy. If I were you I would mix it with lawn soil or something. Also make it pretty deep maybe like 1 foot deep or deeper bc chickens like to dig

 

[aart]

Mites love sand and in most sand that you buy it has mites in it.

Whaaat?! Mites come from other birds, not likely to be living in sand.

I was wondering should I use tarpaulin to cover the run to keep the sand dryer and in better condition? Is this necessary?

Might help, pretty hard to sift poop out of wet sand.....and wet poop in sand smells terrible. Hopefully your concrete base drains well.
Not a fan of sand, wood chips and other dry organic material will compost the poops, with the right mix you never need to pick up poops.

 

[nessa.morg]

Whaaat?! Mites come from other birds, not likely to be living in sand.


Might help, pretty hard to sift poop out of wet sand.....and wet poop in sand smells terrible. Hopefully your concrete base drains well.
Not a fan of sand, wood chips and other dry organic material will compost the poops, with the right mix you never need to pick up poops.

My aunt and a few others have told me that. So I have always thought that and I read it places to. Sorry if I was wrong

 

[PotassiumJunkie]

Might help, pretty hard to sift poop out of wet sand.....and wet poop in sand smells terrible. Hopefully your concrete base drains well.
Not a fan of sand, wood chips and other dry organic material will compost the poops, with the right mix you never need to pick up poops.

Wood chips sounds good. Just on top of the concrete? How deep? Just any wood chips? And you don’t need to worry about it getting wet? Do you have to mix it with anything?

Sorry for a million questions lol