There are a lot of opinions on the Internet about which sand makes the best flooring for chicken coops and chicken runs. We’re here to add clarity to online recommendations and identify products that may work for you. This super in-depth look at chicken coop sand can be enjoyed whole or in parts as needed.
What should chicken coop sand look like?
Here’s a simple list of what you should look for in a chicken coop sand:
- medium to coarse sand particles
- round-ish sand grains
- screened and washed
Next, we break down these guidelines and what they mean. Then we identify products we carry that fit these guidelines and their big box store equivalents.
What is medium to coarse sand?
The terms “medium” and “coarse” refer to the dominant grain size in a sand product. We explain sizing in depth below.
Sand Classification
Let’s take a look at how sand grains are classified using the chart below. We started with the largest sand size at the top and the smallest at the bottom.
In the first column, you’ll see the names of each sand classification. In the middle column, you’ll see the size range that the sand classification corresponds to. In the third column, you’ll see the sieve size that the size range corresponds to (more on that below).
Note: You can move the chart side to side on a mobile device using your finger.
| Sand Class | Grain Size | Sieve Size |
|---|---|---|
| Coarse Sand | 2 mm–4.75 mm | #10 to the #4 |
| Medium Sand | 0.425 mm–2 mm | #40 to the #10 |
| Fine Sand | 0.075 mm–0.425 mm | #200 to the #40 |
| Fines | 0.075 mm or smaller | any particles passing the #200 sieve, like silt and clay |
Grain Size & Sieve Size
Grain size is determined by sieve size.
To measure sand grain sizes at Washington Rock, our Quality Control Lab uses sieves that look a little like cake pans lined with mesh (see the picture below). Each sieve is labeled with a number that corresponds to the size of the openings in the mesh.
If you look at the photo below, you’ll see labels that range from 3/8″ to #270. There are even more sieve sizes than this, but these are some of the most important sizes we use to measure sand sizes in our lab.
The larger the number on the sieve, the finer the mesh and the smaller the sand grains it can hold. Sizes range from the #200 sieve (0.075 mm) to the #4 sieve (4.75 mm). There is also a size called “Pan,” which holds anything that passes through the smallest sieve size, like silt and clay particles.
The photos above show the top of the stack of sieves (left). A closeup (right) shows how the mesh decreases in size with each sieve.
Combined Classifications
You’ll notice that in real life, most sand products are a combination of these classifications. This combination of grain sizes is referred to as a gradation. The gradation is like a recipe that tells us how much of each grain size should be in a product. The gradation for our Coarse Sand, for example, includes a small amount of fines, some fine sand, and some medium sand in addition to coarse sand.
Most of the sand products you will consider will include a variety of grain sizes, but you should look for sand products that have a higher percentage of medium and coarse grain sizes.
What is screened and washed sand?
Screened sand has been separated by grain size and recombined in order to create different combinations of sand particles. Washed sand is sand that has been sent through a wash system to remove even more fine particles like silt.
Our wash system, called a wash plant, screens sand and washes it. A computerized process first separates raw sand into different groups based on their mass. The computer then recombines the groups using one of our recipes (a.k.a. gradations).
Sand particle sizes can be recombined in many ways based on project needs. We included some important terms below to help understand different gradations.
Well Graded: contains a broad range of particle sizes, including fine, medium, and coarse sand particles. Well-graded sand packs down and binds together better. There are less voids between the sand grains.
Uniformly Graded or Uniform: the sand particles all fall into a narrow range of sizes. Uniformly graded sand doesn’t pack down as well but drains better because there are more voids between the sand grains. Our Coop Sand is one example of a uniformly graded sand product.
Now back to the wash process . . .
The finished sand product takes a swim in a wash basin that looks a little like a giant above-ground pool. Then the sand product is pumped uphill out of the basin while water flows downhill and carries away light materials like silt, wood, and charcoal. The sand product is conveyed away from the wash plant into piles where it sits for a day or more to dry out.
The pictures above show the wash tanks at King Creek Pit (left) and sand being conveyed away from the wash plant and deposited in stockpiles (right).
Some sand products, like our Coop Sand, go on another journey to our drying plant to be kiln dried, stored in silos to cool, and bagged in 25-lb bags.
What does it mean that sand should be round-ish?
Most naturally occurring, mined sands will fit this description. Naturally occurring sand particles have been rounded over time by weather, water, and/or friction.
Sand particle shapes can vary from angular to round depending on the material source. There are even shapes in between like “subangular” (angled but blunt) and “subround” (somewhat round). Most sand products will contain a range of shapes. The particles in our Coop Sand, for example, range from subangular to subround.
Knowing the general shape of the sand particles may help you to understand how the sand will behave when walked on.
Angular sand particles fit together like puzzle pieces and compact into a hard surface that won’t drain as well. On the opposite extreme, “well-rounded” (very round) sand particles will move around but drain better due to the voids between particles. A mixture of particle shapes and sizes can help a sand product both drain well and stay in place better.
Manufactured sand, a.k.a. “man sand” or “M-sand,” is made from crushed rocks. Manufactured sand particles are more angular than naturally occurring sand particles. Our manufactured sand product, for example, looks cornflake-shaped under a microscope. It has higher compressive strength, meaning that it packs down better than typical sand. It’s used most often in concrete mixes. It’s also sometimes used in horse arenas. If drainage is an important aspect of your chicken coop flooring, manufactured sand likely isn’t a good fit.
How much sand do I need for my chicken coop or chicken run?
Recommendations vary widely, but this is the most consistent suggestion:
Chicken Coop: 2–3 inches
Chicken Run: 4–5 inches
To determine the total amount of sand you will need, measure the length and width of your coop floor and/or your chicken run. You can use the calculator on our homepage to then enter the length, width, and recommended depth to see how many cubic yards of sand you need.
Which sand products meet chicken coop sand guidelines?
What you like in your chicken coop or run may be different from what someone else likes. That’s why we’ve included three different sand options that vary from medium to coarse.
The chart below summarizes the picture above. The chart shares, where relevant, products sold online that have a similar composition.
| Sand Type | Our Product | Box Store Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Coarse Sand | Coarse Sand | None |
| Medium Coarse (& Uniform) | Coop Sand | Premium Chicken Sand* |
| Medium to Medium Coarse Sand | Class 2 Sand | Quikrete All-Purpose Sand and similar products such as construction sand or river sand (anything that qualifies as ASTM C33) |
*paid Amazon affiliate link
Keep in mind that uniform products like Coop Sand will have minimal fines, which means that there is a much smaller amount of silt compared to most sand products. Some people prefer extra clean products like this, while others prefer more silt content for dust baths.
A note on surface preparation & maintenance
When it comes to chicken coop or chicken run flooring, the product is only as good as the surface it sits on. What we mean by this is that if your surface doesn’t drain well, you will continue to have drainage issues, even if you place a well-draining sand on top. Adding sand or other materials may help to elevate the coop floor above the problem area, but the problem area will persist.
That’s why it’s a good idea to prepare the surface prior to installing chicken coop flooring, whether it’s sand or another product. This may mean sloping the surface so that water can drain away from the coop. It may mean installing a gravel pad and/or a geotextile layer to place the sand on top of. The solution to your problem will be unique to your situation.
If sand is your flooring material of choice, remember that regular maintenance is a must. Sand will only retain its drainage capabilities when organic materials like chicken feces are regularly removed. Organic materials will cause sand to pack over time, no matter its cost or composition.
This article offers guidance based on sand science, articles found throughout the Internet, and common sense. Use your best judgment when applying it to your project. We encourage you to conduct your own research and to follow all safety instructions for the products you choose.
Thank you to our Quality Control Lab Manager, Ryan Hogg, for providing much of the technical information and breakdown of complex processes that guided this article.
Check out other helpful articles on our blog:
- “Choosing a Topsoil Mix”
- “What is Sandy Loam”
- “Organic Topsoil from Orting: How It’s Made.”
- “Clean v. Minus”
- “Comparing Crushed Rock Sizes & Types”
- “How Do I Make a Gravel Surface Wheelchair-Accessible?”
- “How Do I Pick a Gravel Grid Product?”
- “How Many Cubic Yards Do I Need?”
- “How to Find, Vet, and Hire a Contractor Who Can Work with Rock”
- “Should I Put Landscape Fabric Under Gravel?”
- “What are Gravel Grids?”
- “What are the Pros and Cons of Using Gravel Grids?”
- “What Does a Cubic Yard Look Like?”
Washington Rock Quarries is a family-owned business that produces rock, sand, and soil products at Kapowsin Quarry and King Creek Pit in Orting, Washington. To learn more about our products, check out our Products page.
Disclosure: Washington Rock Quarries is registered as an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases on paid links.