What Sand to Use in Chicken Coop: The Ultimate Guide for Clean, Happy Hens

Are you tired of constantly cleaning smelly chicken coops? Wondering if sand might be the miracle bedding solution everyone’s talking about? You’re in the right place! I’ve spent years testing different bedding materials and sand has become my absolute favorite for my flock. But not just any sand will do – choosing the wrong type can actually harm your chickens!

In this complete guide, I’ll share exactly what kind of sand to use in your chicken coop, where to find it, and how to use it properly. Let’s dig in!

The Perfect Sand for Your Chicken Coop

When it comes to choosing the right sand for your chicken coop, this is the most important section to read carefully Using the wrong type of sand can lead to serious health problems for your chickens

NEVER Use Play Sand in Your Chicken Coop

The most important thing to know is that play sand is absolutely NOT suitable for chicken coops Here’s why

• Play sand can cause crop impaction in chickens when they inevitably peck at it
• It’s very dusty and can cause respiratory problems in chickens
• Fine-grained sands don’t release moisture well and can become a breeding ground for bacteria
• Play sand clumps together when wet and doesn’t dry out properly

Some chicken keepers have reported their chickens dying from crop impaction after using play sand. The fine particles of play sand can compact in a chicken’s crop, preventing food from passing through their digestive system. This is especially dangerous for chicks, but can happen to adult chickens too.

The Best Sand for Chicken Coops

Instead of play sand, you want to use medium to coarse-grained sand or very fine-grained gravel. This type of sand is often called:

• River bank sand
• Mortar sand
• Construction-grade sand
• Concrete sand
• Equestrian sand

The perfect sand for chicken coops has a mixture of different grain sizes rather than uniform fine particles. This prevents compaction and allows for better drainage and drying.

![Image showing the ideal medium to coarse-grained sand for chicken coops]

Where to Find the Right Sand

Finding the correct sand can be a bit challenging, as it goes by different names depending on where you live. Here’s where to look:

1. Local gravel companies – Your best bet is to visit local gravel or construction supply companies. Call them up and ask about medium to coarse-grained sand.

2. Home improvement stores – Home Depot and Lowe’s may carry suitable sand, but you’ll want to inspect it in person to ensure it’s not too fine.

3. Agricultural supply stores – Some may carry sand specifically marketed for equestrian use, which can work well.

The trick is to actually go see the sand in person before purchasing. Many gravel companies don’t use standardized names for their sand types, so what they call “river sand” might not be what you’re looking for.

Pro Tip for Finding the Right Sand

Bring a kitty litter scooper with you when shopping for sand! The perfect chicken coop sand should be coarse enough that it doesn’t cause respiratory issues but fine enough that most of it will sift through a kitty litter scooper when you’re cleaning the coop.

How Much Sand Will You Need?

For proper coverage, you’ll want to add sand to a depth of 4-6 inches in your coop. Here’s a rough estimate:

• For a 10’x10′ coop: about 3.15 cubic yards of sand
• For an 8’x12′ coop: about 2.5 tons of sand

The cost will vary depending on your location, but you can expect to pay around $20-40 per ton for the sand itself. Delivery fees may add $90-100 to the total cost.

While this might seem expensive upfront, remember that sand is reusable and won’t need to be completely replaced like other bedding materials. It’s actually more cost-effective in the long run!

The Benefits of Using Sand in Your Chicken Coop

Now that you know what kind of sand to use, let’s talk about why it’s such a great choice for your coop:

1. Superior Cleanliness

Sand dries out chicken poop quickly, making it easier to scoop out with a cat litter scooper. This means less smell and fewer flies in your coop. Because sand doesn’t decompose like organic beddings, there’s no wet, rotting material for bacteria to thrive in.

2. Lower Ammonia Levels

With proper maintenance, sand bedding results in lower ammonia levels compared to straw or pine shavings. This creates a healthier environment for your chickens’ respiratory systems.

3. Better for Dust Bathing

Chickens love to dust bathe, and sand provides the perfect medium for this natural behavior. Sand bathing helps chickens keep parasites at bay and maintain healthy feathers.

4. Natural Grit Source

Chickens need grit to help break down their food. Sand provides a natural source of grit that’s always available, even in winter when outdoor sources might be limited.

5. Temperature Regulation

In enclosed coops, sand helps keep things cooler in summer due to its insulating properties. It doesn’t provide as much warmth in winter as deep litter methods, but it does reduce moisture which helps prevent frostbite.

6. Cleaner Eggs

When chickens walk through sand before entering nesting boxes, it cleans their feet, resulting in cleaner eggs with less poop or mud on them.

7. Non-Flammable

Unlike straw or wood shavings, sand won’t catch fire if you use heating elements in your coop during winter.

When NOT to Use Sand in Your Chicken Coop

Despite its many benefits, sand isn’t right for every situation:

• If your coop doesn’t have good drainage – Sand will become waterlogged and potentially freeze in winter
• If your coop doesn’t have a floor – Moisture can seep up from the ground and make the sand wet
• If you can’t keep your coop dry – Wet sand can clump, harbor bacteria, and potentially freeze
• If you’re not willing to scoop poop regularly – Sand requires regular maintenance to stay clean

How to Use Sand in Your Chicken Coop

Now that you know what sand to use and why it’s beneficial, here’s how to properly implement it:

Setting Up Your Coop with Sand

1. Add a floor if needed – If your coop doesn’t have a floor, consider adding one. For wooden floors, add linoleum or vinyl first to protect the wood.

2. Wait for dry weather – Move sand into your coop during dry weather, as wet sand is much heavier and takes forever to dry out.

3. Add 4-6 inches of sand – Spread the sand evenly across the coop floor to a depth of at least 4 inches.

Cleaning and Maintaining Sand Bedding

For daily or weekly cleaning:

1. Use a kitty litter scooper or a shovel with holes in it to remove chicken droppings.
2. Rake the sand occasionally to prevent it from compacting.
3. If any areas get wet, rake and turn the sand to help it dry out faster.

For yearly maintenance:

1. Consider buying enough sand for two complete coop changes.
2. Once a year, remove all the old sand and replace it with fresh sand.
3. Don’t throw away the old sand! Place it somewhere it can be washed by rain and dried by the sun.
4. After a year, the old sand can be reused, creating a rotation system.

Some chicken keepers even use a flamethrower on their spare pile of sand before reusing it, to ensure any remaining pathogens are eliminated. While this isn’t necessary, it gives peace of mind and is apparently quite fun!

What About Using Sand in Other Areas?

Sand in the Brooder

Using sand in the brooder for chicks is controversial. While some chicken keepers do it successfully, there are concerns:

• Chicks might ingest too much sand before they learn what is and isn’t food
• Sand from outdoor sources might contain pathogens harmful to chicks with undeveloped immune systems

If you do use sand in your brooder, consider sterilizing it first, and always cover it with paper towels for the first week so chicks learn what to eat.

Sand in the Run

Sand can work well in covered runs, but in uncovered runs, it will get wet from rain and possibly turn into mud. If you do use sand in an uncovered run, you’ll need to turn it regularly with a shovel or rototiller after rain.

Final Thoughts

Using the right sand in your chicken coop can make your life as a chicken keeper so much easier and provide a cleaner, healthier environment for your flock. Remember:

• Always use medium to coarse-grained sand, never play sand or beach sand
• Inspect sand in person before purchasing to ensure the right texture
• Plan for at least 4-6 inches of sand depth in your coop
• Maintain your sand bedding by scooping regularly and replacing yearly

I switched to sand in my coops years ago and have never looked back. My chickens are happier, the coop smells better, and cleanup is a breeze. If you’re on the fence about trying sand, I highly recommend giving it a shot!

For a chicken coop, use construction sand or builders sand, which is medium to coarse-grained, to avoid respiratory issues and crop impaction from fine or dusty sand. Washed sand is ideal, as it is less dusty and helps keep the coop dry, promoting good sanitation and discouraging mold and bacteria growth.

Yes, you can use Quikrete All-Purpose Sand in a chicken coop as a bedding material, though some users prefer to add a premium chicken sand for better sifting or for use in nesting boxes. Ensure the sand is thoroughly dried and is a coarse, washed construction-grade sand to avoid respiratory issues from dust and sharpness from crushed sand.

No, mason sand is generally not suitable for chickens because its fine-grained nature poses respiratory and crop impaction risks. Instead, opt for coarser, medium-to-coarse-grained sands, such as concrete sand or bank run sand, which are safer for their feet, facilitate dust bathing, and are less likely to cause health issues.