How much sand?

[kalaim]

My coop is 8'x8'x6', how much sand should I get to cover the bottom?

I have no idea how much a ton or yard even looks like! I just know what the play sand bags look like and I think I'm going to have to go the ordering at a quarry route!

I'm thinking I'm going to need a 1-2 foot base, does that sound like too much?

Thanks!!!

 

[joebryant]

I'm not sure whether or not you should want to put sand in a coop; mine went into the run. You buy sand delivered by the cubic yard (27 cubic feet), i.e., 3'x3'x3'=27 cubic feet= 1cubic yard, or said another way, one yard (3 feet) x one yard x one yard = one cubic yard.
If you really do want it on the floor of an 8'x8' coop, that would be 64 square feet. Therefore, if you want it one foot deep, that would be 8'x8'x1'= 64 cubic feet, and 64 divided by 27 = 2 + yards.
If you want it six inches (1/2 foot) deep, multiply 8 x 8 x 1/2 and you get 32 cubic feet. Divide 32 by 27, and you get a little more than 1 cubic yard.
If you want it four inches deep (1/3 foot), multiply 8x8x1/3 or 64 divided by 3= about 31 cubic feet divided by 27 cubic feet (one cubic yard) gives you 1 4/27 yard.

 

[willowtreecreek]

why do you need sand? I built my run over grass and three weeks later they had cleared it down to sand and dirt.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I just got 1900 pounds of concret sand (medium grit) for my duck pen. It was $12.98 total.

 

[kalaim]

The problem is, this was a cage built for something else so right now it has a plywood floor.

The plywood is covering studs, I want to rip up the plywood but then the studs are still going to be there, so I wanted to cover that up with dirt or sand. So I am left with a level surface and not trip over the studs, does that make sense?

I know it sounds complicated!

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Why not cover the plywood with a piece of linoleum and put the sand where the run's going to be.

 

[kalaim]

That could be an idea too, thanks!

 

[DawnSuiter]

Buy a ton I think it is.. it sounds like a lot, but sand is heavy. It shouldn't cost you any more than $20 AT THE MOST from a Sand & Gravel place.

I used about half a ton i believe for our house just a few sq. feet bigger than yours.

Glad to hear your going to use sand in the coop, it's REALLY a fantastic choice, and my chickens prefer it over the woodchips FOR SURE. It's also so cheap!

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
sand squishes underfoot... sounds like you just need to replace the plywood to me

either with new ply or maybe even 1/2" welded wire with some wood chips on it for cushion.

 

[petitesphinx]

Kalaim

We have the same name! Are you Hawaiian or Hebrew??