What base to use for sand in covered run

[jessabender]

Hi all! My hubs and I (let's be honest, it's mostly him) are building a variation of the Wichita Cabin coop which has a covered run, and my plan is to put sand in as the run floor. My question is, what type of base we should have under the sand? I would like it to drain well, of course, but also to be stable and easy for humans to walk on. What have some of you with sand used for your base? Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[aart]

Does the area already have good drainage.....or is the sand going to 'fix' a drainage problem?

 

[jessabender]

Does the area already have good drainage.....or is the sand going to 'fix' a drainage problem?

We don’t have any drainage problems on our site

 

[aart]

We don’t have any drainage problems on our site

Shouldn't need anything under the sand.
How much do you plan on putting in there, depth wise?
Keep in mind it's very likely to freeze solid in winter and will reek come snow melt time.

 

[jessabender]

Shouldn't need anything under the sand.
How much do you plan on putting in there, depth wise?
Keep in mind it's very likely to freeze solid in winter and will reek come snow melt time.

Well shoot...that doesn’t sound good. The freezing solid and reeking part Any other suggestions? Just pine shavings?

 

[aart]

Any other suggestions?

How big your run is and how many birds you have may effect what will work for you, but......
-My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

 

[jessabender]

How big your run is and how many birds you have may effect what will work for you, but......
-My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

It’s not very big...5’x10’, and I have just 5 birds. There will be a roof over the entire thing as well.

 

[Darrininohio]

Hi all! My hubs and I (let's be honest, it's mostly him) are building a variation of the Wichita Cabin coop which has a covered run, and my plan is to put sand in as the run floor. My question is, what type of base we should have under the sand? I would like it to drain well, of course, but also to be stable and easy for humans to walk on. What have some of you with sand used for your base? Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[Darrininohio]

I have about the same size coop and run. I made a raised bed (6” like a garden) but made it larger than my coop and run. I filled it with pee gravel For fast drainage, Then built my coop on top of it. In the bottom of the coop and run I put fencing for predators landscaping cloth to keep the sand from working down into the gravel. At that point I put about 4” of river sand in it. It has worked beautifully for us the last 3 years. I’m in Ohio so we get a fare amount of snow, rain, wind and freezing temps.

 

[aart]

It has worked beautifully for us the last 3 years. I’m in Ohio so we get a fare amount of snow, rain, wind and freezing temps.

How do you manage the manure here @Darrininohio ?
Does the sand freeze in winter, or are you in southern Ohio?