Washing sand for run- is it necessary??

[Tikkijane]

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No idea, but it might be a good idea to ask the company when I call. It's good to know you had no problems!

 

[crazyhen]

When I buy sand it is already washed. It is washed to get out impurities like clay and organic material. I have never heard of anyone washing their own sand. I buy it by the hugh bag, I mean hugh at lowes. I have clay here and it does not drain. The sand is great for drainage and does not support the fly population as much because it stays dry. I also add some stalldry or DE or There is another one but I forgot the name of it.

Gloria Jean

 

[Tikkijane]

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That's what I was thinking, lol, but folks kept saying to wash it. I could understand it if was ocean sand....

 

[Tikkijane]

Rusty's Ranch :

We just spread the sand out - never thought about washing it. I do hose it down once every week or so just to keep it clean ... maybe that would suffice for washing.

LOL. I figure, if it's not full of poo, it's prolly clean.

But, I generally err on the side of caution, because I would hate for my ignorance to cause problems.​

 

[Chick Charm]

Washing sand with water could not possibly hurt. However, no need to go overboard about what is in sand. For the most part people have been using sand for a very long time in and around chicken housing. Chickens like sand. The scratch, eat, & bath in the stuff. Sure you may have traces of something in sand with no additives but hardly a concern to worry over. Silica can be added to some sands. But chickens have even been raised on these no doubt as well. I have my hens around sand right now and NO problems whatsoever. The bask in it.

I would like to add to be cautious about using sand RECENTLY around other chickens and or wild fowl to stem the spread of anything. Hey and if your concerned about that, by all means spray and wash.

 

[Tikkijane]

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No Lowe's here. Only HD and maybe TSC has sand, in addition to small hardware stores, WallyWorld and a handful of construction companies. I am sure I could go out a few miles and get a truckload (if no one saw, lolol) but there's no way to con the hunny into shoveling any more than he has to, lol.

Does it say on the bags you're getting if it's already washed?

 

[Chucken]

When I had a salt water reef aquarium, I washed the sand by filling a 5 gallon bucket about 2/3 full, then stuck a
hose to the bottom and turned the water on hard enough to agitate the sand, but not wash it over the lip. The bad stuff will float to the top and wash over the side, leaving clean sand. Wash it until the water runs clear. I didn’t have to dry it, but, before it is put in the coop, especially, it should bone dry. Spread it out on heavy plastic sheeting out in the sun and turn it over occasionally (the sand, not the plastic).

 

[Tikkijane]

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We've been using play sand in a cat litter pan (new, not used by anything besides the chicks), but that does not seem cost effective for the run/coop. And, it's too fine to double as grit. I'd rather get something cheaper that is dual purpose.

 

[Tikkijane]

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Good to know! Given our 100 plus temps out here in the desert (although there are hotter deserts out there, lol) I figure wet sand would be totally dry in a short amount of time. A rake over and it should be fine. If I decide to wash it.

 

[elmo]

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Sorry, but even coarse sand is way too fine to serve as grit. What is sold as poultry grit is composed of granite chips which have rough, irregular edges, perfect for what chickens need grit to accomplish for them. Sometimes road bed sand will have gravel mixed into it and there may be some gravel bits that are rough enough and suitablly sized, but honestly, poultry grit is really cheap and a five pound bag lasts forever. Why not just buy some poultry grit and then you know your chickens will be getting what they need?

I used bagged, all purpose sand for my runs. In my opinion, play sand is too fine textured.