Can You Use Sand in Chicken Coop? Pros & Cons

Sand has been one of the most used materials in the chicken coop. Its popularity is traced back to the California egg industry where it was used for the first time. During that time, very few chicken keepers paid attention to sand.

This is attributed to the fact that traditionally chickens were considered to be farm animals found mostly in areas such as barns where hay was a common bedding material for them.

Another popular material that has passed the test of time in addition to hay is straw and sand. In an actual sense, chickens do not need any form of bedding in their coop except in their nesting boxes. In this article, you are going to learn more about sand as a bedding material for chickens.

Is Sand a Good Bedding for Chickens?

Yes! Sand is a good choice of bedding materials for your chickens. In fact, you can use sand in your chick brooder (with older chicks), coop, or run. Sand comes with many advantages compared to other types of materials used as bedding in a chicken coop or run.

Besides, sand is considered an all-weather material, meaning that you can use it across all seasons. It does not matter whether it gets wet or not because it dries out fairly quickly.

Again you don’t have to worry about it getting rotten, developing mold, or mildew given that it is impervious in different types of weather conditions. This feature makes sand exceptional compared to conventional bedding materials used in chicken coops today.

Most chicken owners use sand as their flooring material rather than bedding materials. But one thing remains certain, whether you use sand as a bedding material or a flooring material for your chicken coop and run, just know it has advantages and disadvantages.

Since its benefits outweigh its negatives, sand is a great option for using as bedding material for your chicken coop and run. But the question is, what type of sand is suitable for this task?

What Kind of Sand Can You Use in the Coop?

Not every type of sand can be used in the chicken coop. This is because sand comes from different areas with different conditions. It is also available in many names such as coarse sand, river sand, and construction sand.

These names don’t offer any help that much. Sometimes, these sand names create a lot of confusion among different chicken owners. Very fine-grained gravels and medium to coarse-grained sand are preferred for making chicken coop bedding. These two types of sand have been referred to as mortar sand, riverbank sand, and concrete sand by gravel companies.

Unfortunately, many gravel companies do not provide a special name for different types of sand. For them, any type of sand can serve the intended purpose.

To be on the safe side, look at the sand and analyze it critically before you purchase it. This is attributed to the fact that some companies use sand names interchangeably and this can cause a lot of confusion, especially to new chicken keepers.

With that being said, coarse-grained sand is the most appropriate type of sand to use in your chicken coop or run because it is affordable, easy to clean, reduces the smell, does not rot, and can lower bacterial count.

This does not imply that other types of sand are not suitable for a chicken coop or run. Construction sand, riverbank sand, and bank run sand are also ideal for making chicken bedding material because they are all-purpose sand.

The choice of sand sometimes depends on the backyard chicken owner’s preference. However, the type of sand to avoid in your chicken coop and run is the sandbox sand and playing sand. These two types of sand are ground-up quartz. They also contain a lot of dust that can be detrimental to your chickens’ health when ingested.

Apart from that, this finely ground sand can easily freeze-solid during the winter months. They can also cook your chicken’s feet in the hot summer period when temperatures rise.  Finally, they have minimal insulation properties to keep your birds warm in cold weather conditions.

Pros and Cons of Using Sand as Bedding Material for Chicken Coops

Benefits of Using Sand as Bedding Material

When you use sand as bedding material for your chickens, you should look forward to these benefits:

1. Sand is Considered a Natural Bedding Material for Chickens

Sand is a naturally occurring material. As such, it is very natural for all types of chickens. Bear in mind that all chickens are descendants of the Red Junglefowl found mainly in the tropical areas. This tropical species of birds dwell mostly in forested places or areas with thick vegetation.

For that reason, these richly-vegetative and forested areas are usually located closer to creeks and rivers. And these are places where sand is found in plenty. So, chickens are used to spending most of their time in the sand. This means that introducing them to sand as their bedding material will keep them comfortable.

Unlike other forms of chicken bedding such as hay or pine shavings, sand is considered a perfect choice of material for chickens both in captivity and in the wild.

2. Sand is an Exceptional Litter  for Chickens

Apparently, chickens need litter more than bedding. Sadly, most chicken keepers confuse litter for chicken bedding. The two are completely different in this context. In particular, bedding refers to the material that farm animals sleep on. A good example is straw bedding.

What you need to know is that chickens don’t sleep in the same way as other farm animals. Instead, they roost on wood or other structures in the coop. In this regard, sand serves as litter for chickens. It provides a place for your birds to poop in.

Sand possesses these important characteristics that make it a perfect choice of litter for backyard chickens:

• Keeps bad smell in check
• Absorbs or releases moisture well
• Does not break down, create mold or grow mildew
• Dries out chicken droppings

Only sand can have the above-listed properties compared to other materials used in the chicken coop or chicken run. Even though sand is poor at absorbing moisture, it releases moisture well, making it ideal for use in places that experience a lot of rain.

3. Sand Makes a Cleaner Bedding Material for Chickens

When you compare sand to other bedding materials used in the chicken coops, sand appears to be the cleanest of all. Regardless of this advantage, sand also needs some cleaning to keep the environment in your chicken house conducive for your birds.

This is where sand stands out from the rest of the bedding materials used in chicken coops today. Cleaning sand is easier and more time-saving than cleaning hay or straw. All you need is to scoop the chicken droppings every day and dispose of them to the compost pit.

4. Sand Bedding is Always Dry

In addition to being the cleanest bedding materials for chicken coops, sand dries up quickly. For that reason, sand does not decompose or degrade over time. In fact, sand does not smell compared to bedding materials such as pine shaving, stray, and hay among others.

This is due to the fact that sand does not break down no matter how long it stays in the coop. Additionally, sand helps in drying out the chicken droppings relatively quickly. As a result, this feature makes sand attract fewer flies to the chicken coop or run.

5. Sand Bedding Contains fewer Pathogens

As you already know, sand is the cleanest type of chicken bedding material you can rely on. On that note, sand is believed to contain fewer disease-causing organisms than materials such as pine shavings, hay, and straw.

Backyard chickens in a sandy environment are less exposed to bacteria and other deadly pathogens like coccidiosis. At the same time, these birds are less exposed to parasites such as worms, fleas, and lice. This is because your chicken coop with sand has less wet poop than what you will find in coops with other bedding materials.

Sand is inorganic, so it does not break down to create a safe environment for disease-causing organisms. In this sense, keeping chickens in coops that have sand will prevent cases of poultry diseases, especially during wet seasons.

6. Sand Bedding Promotes Production of Clean Eggs

Other types of coop bedding material can make your chickens have poop smeared on their legs. If they get into their nesting boxes, these birds can bring poop with them. Their eggs may become soiled or dirty with poop.

Worse still, if you live in an area that has clay-rich soil, the excess mud during wet months can make nesting boxes dirty. This happens quite often when free-ranging chickens drag with them some mud that also finds its way into the nesting boxes. Consequently, eggs get dirty and this may take away a great deal of your time to clean them.

But with sand in the run and coop, you can look forward to collecting clean eggs. Besides keeping the eggs clean, sand in the coop can be a great source of grit and a perfect substrate for dust bathing. Most importantly, sand has lower levels of ammonia than hay, straw, or pine shavings.

Drawbacks of Using Sand as Bedding

Sand has its share of problems when used as bedding materials for your backyard chickens. Some of these drawbacks include:

1. Sand Becomes Hot in Most Open Coops

During the summer months, sand can absorb heat to become extremely hot. This is a common trend in wide-open coops that are not well-protected from elements. Hot sand in summer can be life-threatening to your chickens. Regular enclosed and well-protected chicken coops will not experience the problem of sand becoming hot. Plus, their interior will remain cooler even in hot summers.

2. Sand Can Get Frozen Due to Rain and Snow

Aside from becoming too hot in summer, sand can get frozen in winter or cold weather conditions.  This is usually the case in most coots that are open. Frozen sand can negatively impact your chickens’ well-being. So, you should ensure that their coops are well protected from external elements all the time.

3. Sand is Not Suitable for Deep bedding Method

Most chicken owners rely heavily on deep bedding materials to keep the coops warmer in winter. Unfortunately, sand is not the best choice for deep bedding materials.

4. Sand May be Harder to Come by

For some people, fiding sand can be a real problem in comparison to finding conventional types of coop bedding like straw, hay, and pine shaving. In addition, sand is relatively heavy, expensive upfront, and not ideal for garden compost.

Do You Need to Replace Sand in Chicken Coop?

As a chicken keeper, I have learned that keeping the coop clean is essential to keep my birds healthy and comfortable. This includes the bedding material. While sand can last longer than other bedding materials, it still needs to be maintained and replaced.

To keep the coop in good condition, it is recommended to replace the sand every three to five months. This will help prevent the accumulation of droppings and any moisture buildup. I usually use a poop scoop to clean the sand daily and rake it after a heavy rainstorm to keep it fresh.

How to Clean Sand in Chicken Coop?

Cleaning sand in the chicken coop is essential to keep the environment clean and healthy for your birds. I have found that picking up chicken poop daily is the most effective way to maintain the sand. Additionally, using zeolite, Diatomaceous Earth, and wood ashes can help freshen the sand and absorb moisture.

To clean the sand, I first remove all of the chicken droppings. I then rake the sand to break up any clumps or areas that are heavily soiled. Finally, I sprinkle zeolite, Diatomaceous Earth, or wood ashes on top of the sand to absorb any moisture and odors.

Can You Use Beach Sand in Chicken Coop?

Beach sand is a suitable option for chicken bedding, especially if you live near the beach. It can also provide a natural environment for your birds and help them find edibles such as shells. However, it’s important to note that beach sand can contain salt and other contaminants that may not be suitable for your birds.

Before using beach sand, it’s recommended to wash and sterilize it to remove any contaminants. I have used beach sand before, and it worked well for my birds. However, I made sure to wash it thoroughly and let it dry before using it in the coop.

Is Quikrete Sand Safe for Chicken Coop?

Quikrete sand is an all-purpose sand that is suitable for chicken bedding material. It’s more coarse than play sand, which can help prevent the sand from compacting and make it easier to clean. Additionally, Quikrete sand is clean and free of any contaminants that may be harmful to your birds.

I have used Quikrete sand in my coop before, and it worked well. It was easy to clean, and my birds seemed to be comfortable with it.

Can Sand Get Wet in Chicken Coop?

Yes, sand can get wet when exposed to wet conditions. This is especially true during the rainy season. However, the good news is that sand dries up quickly because it does not retain a lot of moisture for too long.

To prevent sand from getting too wet, it’s recommended to provide proper drainage in the coop and use a cover to protect it from the rain. Additionally, adding a layer of wood shavings or straw can help absorb any excess moisture and keep the sand dry. I have used this method before, and it worked well to keep the sand dry during the rainy season.

Alternatives of Sand Bedding for Chicken Coop

As a chicken keeper, I know how important it is to provide my feathered friends with comfortable and clean bedding. Sand is an excellent option for bedding material, but it’s not the only option available. In this section, I will explore some alternative bedding materials for chicken coops.

Straw Bedding

Straw is a popular choice of bedding for chicken coops. It’s cheap, readily available, and easy to dispose of. However, it has some drawbacks. Straw can be difficult to clean, and it doesn’t absorb moisture well. It can also be a breeding ground for bacteria and other harmful pathogens.

Hay Bedding

Hay is similar to straw in many ways, but it’s a bit more expensive. It’s softer and more comfortable than straw, but it still has some drawbacks. Hay can also be difficult to clean, and it can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other harmful pathogens.

Pine Shavings Bedding

Pine shavings are another popular option for chicken bedding. They’re soft and absorbent, and they have a pleasant aroma. However, they can be expensive, and they’re not as readily available as straw or hay.

Hemp Bedding

Hemp bedding is a newer option on the market. It’s made from the stalks of the hemp plant and is completely natural and biodegradable. It’s also highly absorbent, which means it can keep the coop dry and free of odors. However, it can be expensive and may not be readily available in all areas.

Recycled Paper Bedding

Recycled paper bedding is another option that is becoming more popular. It’s made from recycled paper products and is highly absorbent. It’s also dust-free, which means it’s great for chickens with respiratory issues. However, it can be expensive and may not be as readily available as other options.

Comparison of Sand to Other Beddings

As you can see, there are many alternatives to sand when it comes to bedding material for chicken coops. Each option has its pros and cons, and it’s up to you to decide which one is best for your flock. Personally, I’ve used a combination of straw and pine shavings with great success. It’s soft, absorbent, and easy to clean.

Conclusion

Sand is one of the popular bedding materials for chicken coops. This material has been used since the start of the 20th Century. However, sand should not always be used in the brooder because baby chicks can eat it, become impacted, and eventually die.

Also, sand may expose these little birds to pathogens that can make them sick and die due to their weak immune system. Use sand mainly with grown hens and pullets. Coarse sand and river sand is the most recommended since it is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and do not decay.