Mel,I’m in the UP of Michigan so I’m familiar with the challenges of your climate. This post may be long- sorry- we’re talkers UP here —I think sand may be ok in a well covered run if the eves are long enough to prevent the sand from getting wet, no less than 12” with 18” even better. I did not do this in my build and had to add extentions later (thanks to advice by @aart) You don’t want the sand gets wet and freeze to the chicken’s feet.
I’ll share my method FWIW, but it’s certainly not perfect.
It is essentially a deep litter cold compost.
I make my own small wood chips from pine on my land. But you cannget free chips from any local tree service- just make sure you don’t use cedar as it’s toxic to chickens.
In the coop I add a healthy layer of chips every spring on the laminate floor- By 4-6 months it’s pretty well trodden and softened. I have poop boards filled with construction sand so the coop bedding stays fairly clean all year. View attachment 4091099
In Spring the coop bedding goes out to the covered run which has a dirt floor. The old run bedding goes out to compost in spring and again in the fall. In fall I also add fresh course wood chips and top with fall leaves. Around Nov I start adding a 1/4 sq bale of clean hay every 2 weeks—In my experience that hay has seriously cut down on me having to using scoop poop from where the birds scratch to reach bare soil. All winter I turn the run with a pitch fork 1-2x/month and repeat the hay as needed. In Spring- like right now- the whole mix is broken down and goes to a compost pile for fall garden cover. The overwintered compost goes to the garden in late April.
Again, sorry this is long. Good luck to you, and pls post your build when you can.
- Mel
Could we see photos of the inside of your coop? It would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Emma
