Happy to help! Chickens are foragers and love digging through a variety of materials to look for bugs and worms. So in addition to a plant-based medium’s other benefits, you also have this. The chickens will enjoy it a lot more, and it will keep them more occupied! All kinds of things grow and hide in organic matter. But nothing really lives in sand, so from the point of view of the chicken, sand is boring.We are new to chickens, coops and runs, and this is extremely informative! I had read about adding leaves and Pine needles from my yard so I have done that but our daughter who is my “co-chicken raiser” didn’t want to add leaves. I will cut and paste and send this info to her so she’s on the same page with me.
Thanks again for your fabulous explanation!