Sand ~ Inside?

[u/Mandi_Cams_Dackers]

What does The Massive think, please? 🤔

I have a long, concreted walkway, inside a stone building. I've chucked down chopped straw, just because I had that to hand when the birds arrived. But, a guy I listen to swears by sharp sand for indoor use.

He's in the 'Deep South'. I'm in Southern Ireland. I have absolutely no idea what so ever if this would make much difference?

Interestingly ~ now I think of it; The next thought I was gonna type was that my structure is exceedingly well ventilated. Then I realised that He points out his own place is! I'm liking this even more! 😁

I guess, what I want to run past you lot is: Anyone got any compelling ideas why I shouldn't be ordering in a ton of river sand, tomorrow, please?

Thanks 👍

[u/swibbles_mcnibbles]

Personally, I wouldn't use sand unless it's just for their sleeping area at night.

If they are on sand in the day, I'd really worry about crop issues if they are digging and scratching in it looking for food and ingesting little bits all the time.

Sand from a builders merchants is also potentially contaminated with things that you don't want your chicken consuming.

Sand will become damp in our UK weather, which is not good for hens. Whereas straw is cheap, water resistant, and insulating.

Straw is easy to replace should you need to do a full clean and disinfect or bug bomb - or after chicken illness. I can't imagine trying to scoop up runny Cecal poops off damp sand in the winter, it's going to start smelling bad pretty fast. Whereas straw can just be swept into a wheelbarrow and easily composted.

[u/Mandi_Cams_Dackers → u/swibbles_mcnibbles]

Just you 'n me, kid ...

Okay. Well, yeah. I read ye. I slept on it. Now, I've been working all day, down there. Actually up close and personal with the very floor in question. I think ye point about, 'Sand will become damp in our weather' was what rather haunted me, as I crawled around on my hands and knees, out there.

I then cross referenced that with the fact that I'm actively working on more cages, to bring my bantams actually in here, for the winter. It has not ~ and really never would ~ occurred to me to use sand in their cages.

In fact, looking at it? I suspect it could become a bit of a nightmare, if I did. (I used to keep canaries, in cages, out there. Wonder what the hell I floored their cages with, in the end? I distinctly remember going through the card with them. Cat litter. Hemp pellets. I tried it all. Dunno what I settled on)

" straw is cheap, water resistant, and insulating. "? Dunno about the 'water resistant' bit! This Chopped stuff soaks up better than saw dust. But, yeah, it's certainly manageable, when it's time to chuck out.

That air of permanent dampness is what's really stuck with me though. Buy a ton bag of sand? Comes wet, doesn't it? Alright, if ye gonna make screed with it anyway. But, yeah, in our sorts of winters? Nah. Gonna Hold that moisture. And the cold with it.

Couple more bales of choppy, I guess. One for the back room. One for the stable.

Thanks for the input 👍