What's better sand or straw bedding in coop?

[blackdog043]

I like to clean my coops about every day so pine shavings would get a bit expensive. I think I am going to try sand on the coop floor but keep hay in the nest boxes.
Also, I live in Michigan and it usually gets very cold in the winter. Would I still use sand in the coop in winter or would I switch to something else?

How big is your coop and why do you need to change out the bedding every day?

 

[jeria]

I am doing pine shavings. I hate scooping out litter boxes, though I do my cat's about every other day, I still hate it. The clumping litter that my fancy litter box needs is too expensive, so back to scooping, I need to get a sifter box.

 

[LittleBird123]

I live in Ohio and I use sand in my coop and my run but pine shavings in my nest boxes (with dried roses and lavender of course.) Lol Spoiled chickens! I give my coop and run a quick clean every day with a kitty litter scoop and it takes about 5 minutes. No smell and the sand sort of dries out the poop pretty quickly. I'm very happy with it

What type of sand do you use? Also, how do your chickens do with sand in the winter?

 

[LittleBird123]

How big is your coop and why do you need to change out the bedding every day?

My coop is not very big, but I don't completely change the bedding every day I just get all the poop out. That's why I might switch to sand because it would make it a lot easier to clean the coop. I clean my coop every day because my chickens have had a lot of problems with bumble foot, and keeping the it clean helps prevent it.

 

[Suzi18]

What type of sand do you use? Also, how do your chickens do with sand in the winter?

I got construction grade sand. $90.00 for 1 ton delivered to my house. I filled my entire 10x10 run with about a 3 inch layer and both 2x3 coops with about 2 inches and still have about half of the ton left They do fine in the winter although I do add some pine shavings just in the coops for a little added warmth.

 

[PD-Riverman]

What type of sand do you use? Also, how do your chickens do with sand in the winter?

I posted this link on here some where---go to Lowes with your Truck or neighbors and they will set you about 1000lbs in the back of it for less than $40. Its in a big bag. When you get home you can shovel it into 5 gal buckets to transfer or back up to your coop and sling it in. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sakrete-900-lb-All-Purpose-Sand/3467923

 

[LittleBird123]

I got construction grade sand. $90.00 for 1 ton delivered to my house. I filled my entire 10x10 run with about a 3 inch layer and both 2x3 coops with about 2 inches and still have about half of the ton left They do fine in the winter although I do add some pine shavings just in the coops for a little added warmth.

WOW! That is a lot of sand! I was thinking more like just getting a couple bags of sand and dumping them in the coop.
In the winter do you replace all of the sand in the coop with pine shavings or do you just throw it in on top of the sand?

 

[PD-Riverman]

WOW! That is a lot of sand! I was thinking more like just getting a couple bags of sand and dumping them in the coop.
In the winter do you replace all of the sand in the coop with pine shavings or do you just throw it in on top of the sand?

How big is your coop, 2 bags of sand does not go far---1" thick a bag might get you 6 sqft? My main coop would take would take about 25 bags to get it 1 1/2" thick which would be about 1200lbs at around $100. I can get 20 tons(about 40,000lbs) delivered for $100. That's why I get a dump truck load.

 

[Suzi18]

WOW! That is a lot of sand! I was thinking more like just getting a couple bags of sand and dumping them in the coop.
In the winter do you replace all of the sand in the coop with pine shavings or do you just throw it in on top of the sand?

I just put it on top of the sand. The sand also provides grit, it dries out quickly and once a week I run a rake across it just to pick up feathers, missed poop, leaves etc. It always looks neat and clean and no smell. I also sprinkle DE on top of the sand every couple months. Then rake it in.

 

[Suzi18]

How big is your coop, 2 bags of sand does not go far---1" thick a bag might get you 6 sqft? My main coop would take would take about 25 bags to get it 1 1/2" thick which would be about 1200lbs at around $100. I can get 20 tons(about 40,000lbs) delivered for $100. That's why I get a dump truck load.

I agree. A bag of sand doesn't go very far and it would be much more costly at about $2.50 per bag.