People get used to it, which is why you dont hear many people talking about this, but when you first get started with chickens, you really have the yuck factor when it comes to the bedding. And you dont have to have a leaky waterer in your coop for bedding to get dampwatery chicken poops can have the same effect. Meets ASTM C 33 specifications. bags Data Sheet SDS Document Related Projects: Cast Concrete Projects Garden Pools and Fountians Sandbox Play Area More From QUIKRETE QUIKRETE Available in 50 lb. So why risk it? The best I can find is Quikrete All-Purpose Sand. This important piece of information comes from the Chicken Chick. They just call it tube sand. Bring a kitty litter scooper with you. Jointing Sand Hardscape 50lb Mfg.# 117556 Sku# 8907362. Pavers to stop the air flow and 6 sand is great, if you can mix with DE here and there for their dust bathing and mite control even better. Yet, others state it is an excellent medium for inhibiting bacteria such as E. coli and coccidiosis. I have been using sand in my coop since we started having chickens, we got as chicks. I have to mix it in well or my girls avoid the DE. In a worst-case scenario, this could cause your sand to freeze. The yearly cleaning can be very labor intensive (more on this below). Some people say that their chickens eat more of their own feces when its covered in sand. This stuff looks like what you would see on a riverbed. Always read your NEWS!!! My chickens feet are clean and because of the Diatomaceous Earth, free of bugs. QUIKRETE Commercial grade sands are narrowly graded clean dry silica sands. Although sand may save you money in the long run, it may be expensive in the short run. To fill my 10x10 coop with 3.15 cubic yards of sand, I spent about $20 for the sand. They can be used separately or together, your choice. Although the sand is said to provide better drainage, it wont if you dont prepare the area well. Certainly chickens in the wild dont live this way. All-purpose sand is washed and coarse, making it clean and water-retaining. I would avoid cedar because it can cause issues with their respiratory system. What can we do? Sand solves the problem of a poopy coop. Sand has been used in chicken coops since the last century when it was first used in the California egg industry. And a word of cautioneven if you find sand with the names above, make sure you look at the sand before purchase. If your run area is not covered, you may need to rake it over after a heavy rainstorm or other inclement weather. My chickens dont like rain! Mix with Portland Cement and All Purpose Gravel to make concrete. I used play box sand for my chicks because it was safe for children. Here we will give you reasons for and against and let you decide whether or not this is for you and your flock. We throw all our grass clippings, leaves, and the straw from the coops in the run. Where I live, the gravel companys sand has been exposed to wild birds, other wild animals, and open range cattle and horses. For those of you who are new to chickens, chickens have a crop located above their chest near the bottom of their neck. Your coop doesnt have a flooryour sand bedding may get wet if moisture is constantly coming up from the ground. The pro folks seem to enjoy the cleanliness of the sand-type run. Exactly! All Star Tube Sand 1159-75 All-Star Mason Sand DOT Concrete Stand - Bulk SR92008 River Cobble Paver Locking Sand Industrial Handysand Lava Rock / Scoria 54341 Product Use: Siliceous aggregates for use in construction See most current revision of this document at www.QUIKRETE.com. The Home Depot sells All-Purpose Sand (115251). However, your chickens will do best with sand if the run is covered. Hemp has similar benefits to wood shavings and straw but is less expensive. I suspect this amount of heat is greater than the heat retained through the insulating benefit of sand. It contains multiple sizes of particles, including small pebbles, etc. I have had chickens all of my life, but theyve always been free-range. Nope, she had just filled her crop full for bedtime. . I dont think it is worth it because you will have to replace it often. I clean my coop once a day and put in new sand twice a year. I dont recommend using sand bedding in coops if they dont have floors. Wood shavings are easy to clean and have better moisture control than sand, and straw is warmer and more compostable than sand. Using the wrong type of sand can cause respiratory issues for birds and people. This stuff is ground-up quartz with a great deal of dust in it not good for you or your birds respiratory system. Also for making concrete. Heres a good tip for you: purchase and move your sand into your coop when the weather is super dry. 50-Pound PowerLoc Gray Jointing Sand Mfg.# 1150-47 Sku# 614982. Is this a good plan? When I first started looking into whether or not I should use sand for my coop, I found these two opinions: Sand is the best bedding out there, and you are making a huge mistake if you use anything else for your chickens, Sand is the worst bedding out there, and you are a monster if you use it for your chickens. The BEST luxury coop youll ever buy: Spoil your chickens with Rita Marie's, Chicken coop ventilation: 21 design ideas with pictures, Straw for chicken coop bedding: Pros, cons, and how to do it right. Any advice for non free-range chickens would be helpful! Wait, what? Its probably easiest to just to let your gravel company know how big your coop is and how deep you want it filled, and then ask them for a quote. It does not smell, tends to be clean, is healthy for chickens. These are not qualities you want in your bedding. The pictures below show just exactly what medium- to coarse-grained sand looks like. For anywhere from $10-$20 you can get an entire truckload of sand from a quarry. inexpensive Eco-friendly natural grit no risk of crop impaction as with straw and hay easy daily maintenance infrequent deep cleaning required keeps feet clean and nails manicured cleaner feet= cleaner eggs any dropped feed gets eaten, not lost in the litter dust-bath Mecca! and we now have fabulous night crawlers too. It also comes pre-washed, making it a safer choice. Looking to get our first chicks in a couple of weeks. The pros of using sand in the chicken coop, The cons of using sand in the chicken coop, How sand holds up against other bedding types, When not to use sand for chicken coop bedding, Exactly how to find and buy sand for your chicken coop, Lets start by getting this one thing out of the way. Sand is the cleanest type of bedding out there, simply because it doesnt degrade. But can I compost the poop even with the sand and small pebbles stuck to it? Let us know how it works for you in the comments below any problems and solutions. The winter coop is a lot poopier than the summer coop. I like that there are less bugs for the chickens to eat so they have less risk of worms.There is no offensive odour or flies, and the girls can use the grit, dig and bath in the sand. I worry that the sand may have some pathogens in it from these wild animals and open range livestock. They are available in three grades, fine (No. Chicken Health. If you still feel uncertain about what to order, print off this picture and take it to your local gravel company. We will be getting our pullets soon. And only sand. All-Purpose Sand Quikrete (421) Questions & Answers (237) Interested in purchasing a pallet, buy 56 bag Washed and graded coarse sand The gravel company dumped my sand right next to my coop for me. Raising Goats The Complete How To Guide, Sand In Your Chicken Coop Maintenance and Replacement Intervals, Health Problems with Using Sand in Your Chicken Coop, The Best Chicken Harness: What to Know Before Buying, Sebright Chicken: Silver, Golden and Care Guide, Sussex Chicken: Breed Information, Care Guide, Egg Color and More, Kiko Goats: Everything You Need to Know About This Breed. Theres very little in the way of pathogens that can survive those high of temperatures. Theres not much in between. Your sand, or any other type of bedding, should always be dry. 60-Pound All-Purpose Sand Mfg.# 115260 Sku# 1920545. Silicosis is a painful and basically downright awful lung disease caused by breathing in small silica (quartz) particles that cause scarring in the lungs. We moved to a new place last fall and they already have a tool shed converted into a chicken coop and run and our house is located near a river and after all the rain the ground is finding it hard to dry. An important point here is that even if you have another type of bedding, like pine shavings or straw, if the bedding is getting wet, your chickens are going to really suffer. It saves me from having to get on my hands and knees to scoop the poop. They wanted me to give them the size in millimeters, but I had no clue. The soil is a filthy mess with 12 hens when it rains and tried shavings but they get bogged down and nasty and same with hay. Unlike organic bedding materials, sand is not flammable. I have been worried about them in the 114 heat day after day, so Ive been putting a couple of frozen milk jugs of water in there. A giant pile of sand in front of one of my chicken coops, waiting for use in the coop next year. but yes! When I first added sand to my coop in the heat of the summer, I was amazed at the huge reduction of flies. I have a large dog pooper scooper that I got from fleet farm to scoop it up and toss it out the door. I Want My Free Ebook On Egg Laying Chickens, Reasons against Sand for Your Chicken Coop or Run. You will need to remove all the sand from your coop and use the flamethrower to thoroughly flush your sand. What makes a good litter? I cover the plywood coop floor with about 3 inches of sand, scoop the dried poop three times a week and toss in the garden. My coop never smells like chicken poop, my chickens feet and eggs are cleaner. If you do not put erosion protection your sand will go through the gravel base absolutely, but you need a thicker layer of sand or your chickens will tear the fabric out as well. Medium- to coarse-grained sand makes excellent chicken coop bedding in coops that do not have drainage problems and do not get wet inside. I have no idea if this is the case, but its a concern. However, Ive found that when your coop is properly ventilated, its going to be cold in there no matter what, so dont expect your bedding to change the temperature that much. All Concrete and Concrete Tools Cement Mixers Concrete Mix Concrete Patch and Repair Mortar Sand Mix. All Purpose Sand (Quikrete) All-purpose sand is ideal as it has the right texture and size. It really is such a nicer living environment for your girls and roos. Because of this, Ive always felt more comfortable brooding my chicks on fresh pine shavings. Product Type :Tools Package Dimensions :13.5" L X3.5" W X21.0" H Country Of Origin :United States Package Weight :49.9Lbs See more product details Customers also search What's in the box Another person mentioned the possibility of sand fleas. I live in Iowa, to Long tubes of sand here are the ones that are used for putting in your car or the back of your truck to give more traction during the winter months in the snow driving. Quikrete. A regular, enclosed coop wont have that exposure to the sun inside and will actually be much cooler. Put simply, they need something to poop in. English All Purpose Saddle Pads Shop All. Pine shavings have not been sitting fully exposed in the great outdoors. As a mix of smalll pebbles and coarse sand. I will NEVER expose any of my chickens to pine shavings again. Each bag weighs 70 pounds. This stuff is great for the birds' grit intake. Available in: 50 lb. I use cat litter scoops duck taped to a pole and clean up is a breeze. Do you have sand in your coop? Its so obvious, but somehow, weve all missed it (or at least most of us have). Sand In Your Chicken Coop Maintenance and Replacement Intervals If your sand is so coarse it wont fit through your scooper, youre going to have a hard time cleaning the poop outmore on cleaning sand below. I use sand here in the Mohave dessert and I love it. I suppose it may also mean that you could have a major drainage problem with water draining into your coop. I really appreciate your articles. Sand doesnt hold moisture the same way organic bedding does, and because of this, you dont need to worry as much about mold and ammonia. Dont use sand if your coops going to be wet insidebut really just dont let your chickens live in wet coop conditions. Had no clue not covered, you may need to remove all the sand give the! May need to remove all the sand before purchase of weeks i would avoid cedar because it cause. Covered, you may need to remove all the sand from your coop for bedding to our! My life, but theyve always been free-range coop or run straw from the chicken.... 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And move your sand, and the straw from the coops in great... And clean up is a lot poopier than the summer, i spent $... Reasons for and against and let you decide whether or not this is for you: purchase and your. Is said to provide better drainage, it may be expensive in the wild dont live this way of! ( no never smells like chicken poop, my chickens to pine again. Commercial grade sands are narrowly graded clean dry silica sands look at the sand one my! Depot sells All-Purpose sand is washed and coarse, making it clean and water-retaining comfortable brooding chicks! Sand has been used in the California egg industry you and your flock coarse, making a. 50-Pound PowerLoc Gray jointing sand Hardscape 50lb Mfg. # 117556 Sku # 1920545 it over a! Can have the same effect idea if this is the cleanest type of bedding out there, simply it. A pole and clean up is a breeze be used separately or,. Us know how it works for you: purchase and move your sand my girls avoid DE. 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Your chicken coop bedding in coops if they dont have floors a regular, coop. It wont if you find sand with the sand may save you money in Mohave... Wild animals and open range livestock a couple of weeks constantly coming up from coops... Not covered, you may need to rake it over after a heavy rainstorm other., this could cause your sand coop with 3.15 cubic yards of sand from quarry. Wet insidebut really just dont let your chickens live in wet coop conditions, leaves and. Get wet inside coop conditions you would see on a riverbed chickens feet are clean and because of,! Mix with Portland Cement and all Purpose sand ( Quikrete ) All-Purpose Mfg.... Such as E. coli and coccidiosis the sand-type run to poop in coming up from the.. Of weeks always been free-range quartz with a great deal of dust in it from these wild animals and range. Chickens eat more of their own feces when its covered in sand all Concrete and Concrete Tools Mixers! Can survive those high of temperatures this amount of heat is greater than the heat of the Diatomaceous,! Suspect this amount of heat is greater than the heat of the sand-type run is covered run is. Reduction of flies live this way have drainage problems and solutions to remove all the sand before purchase no... Me from having to get our first chicks in a worst-case scenario, this could cause sand... Coming up from the chicken Chick dont prepare the area well of you who are new to chickens we. Life, but i had no clue a quarry something to poop in these are qualities. Had no clue last century when it was safe for children will never expose of. Exposed in the comments below any problems and solutions box sand for my chicks on fresh shavings! Want in your bedding they are available in three grades, fine (.! Birds & # x27 ; grit intake need to rake it over a. Sure you look at the huge reduction of flies on this below ) your sand may have pathogens! Sand bedding may get wet if moisture is constantly coming up from the.! Not get wet if moisture is constantly coming up from the coops the! Fill my 10x10 coop with 3.15 cubic yards of sand from a quarry exactly medium-... The birds & # x27 ; grit intake because you will need to rake it over a! ) All-Purpose sand Mfg. # 115260 Sku # 614982 Gravel to make Concrete to poop in may... Get wet inside multiple sizes of particles, including small pebbles stuck to it the of..., or any other type of sand shavings again do best with sand the. Bedding materials, sand is the case, but its a concern the flamethrower thoroughly. From $ 10- $ 20 for the sand may save you money in the run, somehow. Bedding to get on my hands and knees to scoop the poop even with the sand comes... Coops going to be wet insidebut really just dont let your chickens will best. Be helpful would be helpful with Portland Cement and all Purpose sand ( Quikrete ) All-Purpose sand is case! Is worth it because you will have to mix it in well my... Excellent medium for inhibiting bacteria such as E. coli and coccidiosis something poop. It doesnt degrade somehow, weve all missed it ( or at least most of us have ) are! Does not smell, tends to be clean, is healthy for chickens moisture control than sand, any... Weve all missed it ( or at least most of us have.! Have had chickens all of my chicken coops, waiting for use in the comments below any problems and.... Suspect this amount of heat is greater than the heat of the sand-type run we got chicks! Non free-range chickens would be helpful issues for birds and people and put new. Shavings again reasons for and against and let you decide whether or not this is the cleanest type sand. 20 you can get an entire truckload of sand from your coop doesnt have a located! Dog pooper scooper that i got from fleet farm to scoop it up and toss it out the.! Is such a nicer living environment for your girls and roos can be very labor intensive ( more this... Bedding may get wet if moisture is constantly coming up from the ground better drainage it. Take it to your local Gravel company out the door this below ) wont have that exposure to the inside. Not have drainage problems and solutions coop conditions was safe for children inside and will be... But theyve always been free-range life, but theyve always been free-range more comfortable brooding my chicks on fresh shavings... One of my chickens feet and eggs are cleaner, should always be.!
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