UCP Episode 043 – Listeners Q & A Session #3 – Squawking Hens & Using Sand in Your Coop

The Urban Chicken Podcast - The Urbanite's Podcast Resource for Keeping Backyard Chickens

Today on the Urban Chicken Podcast I answer more chicken questions posed by listeners in Session III of Listeners’ Q & A series. The chicken issues being discussed and considered in this session are how to break your backyard hens of their early morning squawking habit and the pros and cons of using sand as a chicken coop and run litter.

WHY ARE MY HENS SQUAWKING AT DAWN & HOW CAN I MAKE THEM STOP?

It is not uncommon to hear complaints by chicken owners of their backyard flock being more vocal than desired. Here is one such message I recently received from Moana – a Urban Chicken Podcast follower, who lives in Hawaii:

Do you know how to get hens from squawking when the sun comes up (i.e. 6:30 a.m.)? I am starting to feel bad for my neighbors.

I followed up with Moana and found out that she lets her hens free-range in her backyard. There was the root of the problem. Chickens can see dawn an hour earlier than human (chickens can see in full-spectrum color as well as infrared and ultraviolet) and so by 6:30 a.m. they have been up and about and ready to get out of their coop for some time. The second root of the problem is that chickens are highly trainable and rewards driven. As discussed in UCP Episode 024 with animal trainer, Giene Keyes, chickens have a great memory for consequences. In Moana’s situation she runs outside to let the birds out of their coop in the early morning as soon as they start fussing. The more she does this – the more the chickens learn that behavior is rewarded with getting out of the coop sooner. Consequently, Moana has trained her birds to be early morning squawkers.

Moana has three options for fixing this problem. Option #1, she could darken the coop so that the chickens can’t see dawn until she is ready to open up the coop. Option #2, she could re-train her chickens by ignoring their early morning fussing. After a while, the birds would learn that being loud does not get them out of the coop sooner. Option # 3, she could buy an automatic coop door and let the chickens out bright and early without having to get up.

PROS AND CONS OF USING SAND IN YOUR COOP/RUN AS CHICKEN LITTER

Recently, the UCP received an email from listener Marlene, who lives in Southern California about a hot topic chicken issue. Here is what Marlene wrote:

Love listening I especial enjoy your humor. Was wondering about sand in the coop as bedding. I leave in southern ca so I have mild winters. I have 5 hens in a 10 x10 coop with run off the back. Any health risks with sand? Or negative. Thanks, looking forward to your next podcast.

The Pro and Con sand as chicken litter camps both have much support by respected chicken experts. Truthfully both sides make compelling arguments for the use and disuse of sand inside a chicken coop.

The proponents of using sand as chicken coop litter argue that sand is a cheap, durable, easy to clean substance that drains away water and keeps the coop cool in summer. Additionally, sand litter fans note assert that sand is healthier for the birds as it provides nature grit, dust bathing opportunities and will not mold and cause respiratory illnesses.

The opponents, on the flip side, argue that sand is not composting (so it is not green), it can provide a medium for diseases such as coccidiosis and/or E. coli to flourish. Moreover, the anti-sand litter camp asserts that chicks often mistake it for food and eat it until they die; it is worthless for insulating a coop in wintertime; and when exposed to direct sunlight all day in a run, can become unbearably hot for chickens to walk upon.

I have never used sand as a chicken litter, but based on the arguments for and against its use, I would lean on the side of being against it. The tiebreaker for me is that it is not composting and so what would I do with so much sand that I would need to replace a couple times a year.

CHICKEN NEWS:

• World Poultry -Denmark bans ritual killings ARTICLE
• ibtimes – Ritual killings ban in Denmark stirs religious debate ARTICLE
• Arabian Business – Denmark tries to play down criticism over slaughter ban LINK
• Arab News – Denmark bans religious slaughter of animals while conscious LINK

MAIN SEGMENT:

• Fresh Eggs Daily – The real scoop on using sand in the coop ARTICLE
• GRIT – Chicken Coop Bedding: Sand the superstar ARTICLE
• BYC Forum – Discussions on Sand in Coop HERE, HERE, HERE & HERE
• UCP Episode 024 – with Giene Keyes on Training Chickens LINK
• CONTEST – enter to win the Nite Guard Solar Predator Light LINK

photos by: Five Furlongs & GA-Kayaker, pasukaru76, CharlesLam