All-Purpose Sand?

[Marshmallow]

Is it safe to use all-purpose (rather than play sand) in a run? I'd prefer to use play sand, but it's currently playing hard-to-get.

 

[BRROCKTERRY]

I used regular sand from Lowes and so far no problems. I have 6 Barred Rock hens and and they are very healthly. Just my thoughts on the subject!! Hope this helps!! BBROCKTERRY

 

[GardeNerd]

My sand is an "all purpose." It was in the construction section at Lowes. I like it and picked it over the play sand. I like the texture better than the sugary white play sand. It is more tan and has medium and small bits. We have been using it with no problems for 5 months. I felt it was less likely to get air borne since it wasn't as fine as the play sand.

 

[MPLSHens]

Most local hardware stores carry 3 dollar bags of play sand.

 

[Omran]

SAND IS SAND, if it to play or to build (that is what I know.)

 

[jafo]

Why buy sand at a superstore? Is'nt there any sand / gravel pits in your areas? Out here in the sticks, I can think of 5 right off the top of my head, not counting town garages, that use it for slippery roads. Out here, it's pretty much free. Just some alternative sources, and yes,,,sand is sand. We use pine shavings.

 

[greenpeeps]

No sand is not sand. There are different grades for different reasons. Play sand is fine siffited sand with no pebbles. When play sand becomes wet, it compacts into a hard lump. Construction sand has small pebbles and sand, this is better for drainage, which is the purpose of using the sand with the chickens.

 

[LesGan]

I switched to sand on the floor of my chix house about 10 months ago and love it. Cut way down on dust and so easy to roll balls of poop into a container to clean floor. I will never go back to chips or sawdust. A funny thing....I used bags of playsand and the chix would not go onto it at first. It was too white, too smooth and they had no depth perception of what they were stepping onto. When I gathered a few leaves and sprinkled them on the sand they they went in and of course now there is no problem. I love the sand.

 

[Beau coop]

Can you explain to us sand using newbies how to do this. The dirt in my run right now is very hard and it seems to be compacted poo that will smell the next time it rains.

Do I need to clean up this surface before putting the sand down. Another thread suggests putting gravel down first, then sand. It seems that maybe the sand would wash down into the gravel.

How do you keep the sand in the run? Do you have something around the run to contain it?

 

[LesGan]

I personally have just used the sand on the floor of my chix house. I do also have a "sandbox" in the dirt yard that the chix bathe in. Yard is stripped bare of vegitation and is just dirt. I periodically use a rake and rake up poo and remove to compost pile. Have not found a good way to handle the yard but I love the sand in the house.