Backyard Fowl Keepers

Hi everyone!

When I moved my chicks outside, I decided to try sand in the coop after hearing it was easy to clean and helped control odor. Unfortunately, that hasnt been my experience at all.

I scoop daily using a cat litter scoop, but it feels tedious, and I can never get the coop as clean as Id like. Theres also a strong odor despite my efforts. The biggest issue is that spilled feed gets mixed into the sand and wont sift out properly.

Is there a better way to clean sand efficiently? Or should I consider switching to another bedding? Any advice on reducing the smell?

Thanks in advance!

Try using a reptile sand scoop,it has finer holes than a litter scoop and might help with cleaning more effectively.

If odor is a major issue, you might be dealing with trapped moisture. Maybe switching to a mix of sand and pine pellets could help absorb it.

Sand works best when completely dry. Is there any moisture buildup in your coop? Adding more ventilation could help with odor.

Some people swear by sand, but I switched to hemp bedding,less dust, no smell, and super absorbent. Might be something to research!

I gave up on sand for the same reasons! Switched to pine shavings, and it's much easier to manage. Maybe worth considering?

Some people rake the sand daily instead of scooping,loosens everything up and helps dry it out faster. Might be worth a try!

I had the same problem, so I put feed in a hanging feeder. It cut down on waste in the bedding a lot!

I use a leaf blower on low to clear out fine dust and old feed. Then I top off with fresh sand once a week.

You're not alone,sand can be tricky! Have you tried a finer mesh scoop? That might help separate the droppings better.