Topsoil for chickens!

[Hollysaurus]

Hello! Me and my husband have had chickens for about 3 months now, We've just decided to change up their coop and wanted to add some nice soil at the bottom for them but we're not sure what to buy!
Originally we were going to buy sand as sand has many purposes and it helps in the summer and winter, but it just seems too scary with all the issues it can cause! So I think I will stick with soil! haha.
Below is the soil we found, It's from Tractor Supply, Just wanted to know if this is fine to get? https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/scotts-premium-topsoil-75-cu-ft?cm_vc=-10005

 

[addctd2plnts]

If you look through previous threads, it seems like the majority of the people love sand but it's a very specific type of sand, called "Washed River Sand". It has a wide range of sizes of particles from pea gravel size, down to sand size, which keeps it from caking. And because it's washed, it has very little dust. Not sure if you knew the type of sand made a difference but from people say, it is EVERYTHING!

 

[Tonyroo]

I would advise against buying top soil in a bag. It's used a gardening and there's additives that chickens should be exposed too.

Use natural dirt if you can.

 

[3KillerBs]

Most of us use some kind of organic bedding that will combine with the chicken poop to make compost -- either in the run as part of a Deep Litter system or after being cleaned out of the coop.

Quality dirt for the garden is the end-product rather than the initial input.

Why do you want to use bagged soil in the coop rather than pine shavings, straw, or one of the other traditional beddings?

 

[Hollysaurus]

If you look through previous threads, it seems like the majority of the people love sand but it's a very specific type of sand, called "Washed River Sand". It has a wide range of sizes of particles from pea gravel size, down to sand size, which keeps it from caking. And because it's washed, it has very little dust. Not sure if you knew the type of sand made a difference but from people say, it is EVERYTHING!

Oh wow thank you! I might do half and half, Some soil and some sand? I did hear about Washed River Sand, but I was scared to buy the wrong kind! I will definitely look over the threads, thank you. Wanted to know if the soil above is ok to buy too, I just really don't want to buy anything bad for my chickens, They're so spoilt!

 

[Hollysaurus]

I would advise against buying top soil in a bag. It's used a gardening and there's additives that chickens should be exposed too.

Use natural dirt if you can.

Thank you so much, If you have any links to buy the right stuff I would appreciate it!

 

[3KillerBs]

Oh wow thank you! I might do half and half, Some soil and some sand? I did hear about Washed River Sand, but I was scared to buy the wrong kind! I will definitely look over the threads, thank you. Wanted to know if the soil above is ok to buy too, I just really don't want to buy anything bad for my chickens, They're so spoilt!

Why soil at all?

People who use sand use it as if it were a sort of litter box -- where you have to scoop the poop regularly, even daily.

Where, in general, are you? The people who are happy with that system over the long term are almost always in a dry climate.

 

[Hollysaurus]

Most of us use some kind of organic bedding that will combine with the chicken poop to make compost -- either in the run as part of a Deep Litter system or after being cleaned out of the coop.

Quality dirt for the garden is the end-product rather than the initial input.

Why do you want to use bagged soil in the coop rather than pine shavings, straw, or one of the other traditional beddings?

What organic bedding do you buy?
The soil would be used for the bottom of the coop, the outdoor caged part not inside the coop itself where they lay. I have pine shaving up the top for at night. Our coop is on a concreate pad so I wanted to put something down and I wasn't sure what.

 

[Tonyroo]

Thanks for clarifying intent of use. So it's for the run.

 

[aart]

What organic bedding do you buy?
The soil would be used for the bottom of the coop, the outdoor caged part not inside the coop itself where they lay. I have pine shaving up the top for at night. Our coop is on a concreate pad so I wanted to put something down and I wasn't sure what.

Post some pics of your coop(where they sleep) and your run(the outdoor caged part).

Also....Welcome to BYC! @Hollysaurus
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