Sand Bedding for Chicken Coops: Why I’ll Never Switch Back
Switching to sand bedding keeps your coop cleaner, drier, and easier to maintain. Learn which sand to use, how deep, and how to keep it fresh.
When I first started raising chickens, I never gave much thought to what went on the floor of the coop. Pine shavings? Sure. Straw? Why not. But then the mud came. The smell came. And suddenly every trip to the water station felt like balancing on a slip-n-slide.
That’s when I discovered sand. Honest truth? Switching to sand bedding in my chicken coop was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my birds—and for my sanity. Clean feet, no stench, and a coop that finally felt like I had my act together.
If you’ve been wondering whether sand is a good bedding choice, which type to buy, or how to keep it working year-round, here’s what I’ve figured out since switching to sand back in 2013.
Why Sand Bedding Works So Well
Here’s the kicker: sand solves problems that traditional bedding creates. Pine shavings get soggy, straw molds, and everything starts smelling like a barnyard in July. Sand, on the other hand, dries out droppings, controls odor, and actually keeps chickens’ feet clean.
It also saves on feed because pellets sit right on top instead of disappearing into a deep litter. I’ll admit, I like that it makes the coop look tidier too. A clean, dry coop just feels better to walk into.
The Big Pros (And Why I’ll Never Switch Back)
Sand keeps the coop fresh by drying droppings quickly and preventing ammonia buildup. My hens had cleaner feet, fewer scrapes and sores (bumblefoot), and just looked more comfortable walking around. They also dust bathe in it constantly, which doubles as natural mite control.
Another bonus is climate. Sand stays cooler in the heat and doesn’t trap dampness in the winter. When it does come time to swap some out, you don’t have to haul the whole load to a compost pile all at once—that’s usually too much material in one go. I just toss some into the compost here and there so it doesn’t swamp the pile, and it helps break up all that heavy, clumpy mess. I’ve also used it to fill in muddy spots in the yard, add drainage to garden beds, or improve pathways around the homestead. If you have clay soil, mixing small amounts of sand over time helps loosen it and improve aeration.
If you’re new to building a hot, balanced pile, Composting for Beginners: The Ultimate Starter Guide shows you how to layer browns and greens so small additions of sand don’t stall the process.
Choosing the Right Sand for Your Coop
Not all sand is created equal. The kind you pick makes or breaks how well this system works.
Bank run sand is my top choice because it has a natural mix of fine and coarse particles. The pebbles keep it from compacting and help with drainage—perfect if you live somewhere wet. Construction sand is similar, affordable, and easy to find. All-purpose sand will work in a pinch, though its uniform grains tend to pack down faster.
Then there’s play sand. Don’t do it. It’s too fine, it turns to sludge when wet, and the dust can cause respiratory problems. Skip it and save yourself the frustration.
Tip: Buy sand locally if you can. Quarries, landscape suppliers, and sometimes even garden centers carry the good stuff. Delivery usually costs less than trying to haul it in your own truck. If you can’t find a local source, you might track down smaller bags of construction sand online—but honestly, if you need a full coop’s worth, buying local is almost always the better deal.
How Deep Should Sand Be?
Depth depends on your coop setup. In a raised coop with a plywood floor, three or four inches of sand is enough. On the ground or in an enclosed run, go six to eight inches so moisture drains properly. If your coop sits on soggy soil, lay down a few inches of gravel first. It makes a huge difference in preventing muck.
Cleaning and Maintenance
This is where sand really shines. I rigged up a stall rake with some hardware cloth, and now it works like a giant litter scoop. Cleaning takes me maybe two minutes, tops.
Seasonally, I sprinkle in wood ash during the winter or food-grade DE in the summer. Both help with pests. A couple of times a year, I freshen things up with pelletized lime or Sweet PDZ and add more sand where it’s packed down. Then, once a year, I do a full cleanout and start fresh.
If you’re setting up or tweaking your space, Roost to Run: The Elements of Perfect Chicken Coop Design walks you through smart roost placement, floor plans, and ventilation so your sand system works even better long-term.
Pro tip: Sand only works if you keep up with it. Neglect it, and it’ll smell just like any other bedding.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If odor creeps in, it usually means the sand is too shallow or not draining. Adding depth—or refreshing under the roosts more often—solves it. In wet climates, sand can compact; raking helps, or you can lay down gravel before adding more.
Extreme weather poses its own challenges. In summer, sand can heat up in direct sun, so make sure part of the run is shaded. In winter, the surface layer may harden, but a deeper base keeps it from freezing solid.
Pests love damp bedding, so as long as you keep the sand dry, you’ll dodge most of those headaches. I keep a bag of food-grade DE on hand and a bucket of Sweet PDZ for freshening the run, but use it sparingly.
For a whole-yard strategy that keeps hens safer day and night, see Best Way to Protect Chickens from Predators in Your Backyard—it covers hardware cloth sizes, dig-proof skirts, and lighting that actually deters prowlers.
Using Sand in a Brooder
Sand works here too, though I wait a few days before exposing chicks directly. I usually cover it with paper towels for the first 2–3 days so the chicks learn what’s food and what’s not. Once they’ve got the hang of it, the towels come off and the sand helps hold heat, keeps water cleaner, and doubles as grit when I start offering little treats.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sand Bedding
People ask me the same questions about sand over and over, so let’s run through the big ones. These answers come from years of messy experiments and more than a few stinky cleanouts.
Save this guide to your chicken keeping board so you’ll have it handy when you’re ready to switch to sand bedding.
Switching to sand bedding made chicken keeping easier, cleaner, and—honestly—much less smelly for me. It cuts down on mud, keeps my birds healthier, and costs less in the long run than shavings or straw.
If you’re tired of slogging through mud and holding your nose every time you open the coop, give sand a shot. I don’t think you’ll want to go back. And if you’ve already tried it, I’d love to hear how it worked for you—share your experience in the comments or save this post to Pinterest so you can come back to it later.