Simply laying sand on top of mud may disguise the problem for a year or so, but eventually, the sand will sink into the mud necessitating new sand. If you haven’t already sited your coop, this might be a good time to reconsider placement and move it to a drier location.Īlthough the sand is said to provide better drainage, it won’t if you don’t prepare the area well. This option is expensive but the benefits will be better ground to walk on and fewer mosquitoes! When the entire area around the coop and run is always wet and muddy, it might be best to consider laying down some drainage tiles first. If your run area is a muddy mess in the winter and spring, you might consider laying down a good 3-4 inches of gravel under the sand. If you’re planning to use sand in your run, you need to prepare the ground for sand. Obviously, before adding the sand you should make sure your coop’s floor is strong enough to support the added weight of the sand. You will need a strong back and arms or sufficient funds to employ someone to do the hauling and settling for you. You will need to calculate how much sand you need for the given area.Īs an example, an area of 8ft x 12ft covered to a depth of 6 inches would require approximately 2 ½ tons of river sand. The initial setting up of a sand-based coop and/or run is probably the most time-consuming and expensive part of the process – not to mention heavy work.
#The cat and the coup psn how to#
If you decide it is for you, then we also have a section in this article about how to use sand in your coop and which type of sand to use. Here we will give you reasons for and against and will let you decide whether or not this is for you and your flock. This prompted us to take a look at the positives and negatives of using sand as a bedding material in the coop and run. Some people, however, use sand as a flooring material.
Spreading straw, hay, or similar over the floors and in the nest boxes. Most folks use conventional bedding materials in the coop and run. Sand in your chicken coop is a good question.