Does chicken feed spoil?

Date sort Score sort
mrkep

mrkep

Songster
12 Years
Mar 10, 2010
106
12
194
Richwood , Ohio
My 8 Buckeyes haven't been eating much, if any, of the Dumor pellets. The girls are 2 1/2 years old and have just finished molting. I filled the feeder on July first . The feed doesn't have any odor that I can smell, but there is lots of dust in the bottom. We have been giving the girls lots of supplemental protein during their molt ( meat scraps & lots of garden waste). There isn't much feed left, maybe 5 lbs, should I get rid of it and get fresh?
Thanks, mrkep
 
If it's dry and doesn't show any sign of mildew it should be fine. Having a lot of dust at the bottom is normal, kind of like how there is always a bunch of crumbs at the bottom of a bag of chips.
 
Feed does lose value over time. The vitamins oxidize, and moisture and the oxygen do start to break down other nutrients. Two months of exposure is stretching it.
 
I removed what was left, about 5 lbs, and got a new bag. Checked it this morning and they have been eating it.
Thanks for your replys.
mrkep
 
This might help you for the future. I put out quite a bit of feed for my chickens in the coop, too. When I introduce some that is fresher (closed in bins in the garage) they go nuts over it and can tell the difference easily. So I like to only put out enough for about 3 days in the coop, maybe 4.

I just top it off every few days- that way if there is moisture or potential for staleness it isn't an issue.

As far as purchased feed stored in an airtight bin, I recommend only storing 3-4 months' worth (and this is if it is kept cool and dry, not in a very hot environment). I am talking about the cracked grain commercial feed.
 
Last edited:
I use a home made feeder that will hold a full 50lb bag. I made it when I started with chickens because I started with a straight run of 25. Now, due to culling the roos and losing some hens, I have 8 hens. I plan to add some next spring, only 4 or 5 . My concern about the old feed was that it had been there, in the coop, thru the hot summer and maybe the heat & humidity had spoiled it. I can find only 50 lb bags at the TSC, otherwise I would buy smaller amounts. But then, how do I know how long the bag has been stored before I bought it?
mrkep
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrkep

I use a home made feeder that will hold a full 50lb bag. I made it when I started with chickens because I started with a straight run of 25. Now, due to culling the roos and losing some hens, I have 8 hens. I plan to add some next spring, only 4 or 5 . My concern about the old feed was that it had been there, in the coop, thru the hot summer and maybe the heat & humidity had spoiled it. I can find only 50 lb bags at the TSC, otherwise I would buy smaller amounts. But then, how do I know how long the bag has been stored before I bought it?
mrkep




For 8 hens you should be going through a 50 lb bag in a month. Unless they are bantams, LOL. This is just my experience.

Yeah, hard to say how long the feed was sitting in the store.
thumbsup.gif
 
Last edited:
There should be a date of manufacture on the bottom of the bag or the tag on the bottom. I go thru about 50 lb bag for my 4 hens in about 5 to 6 weeks. I like to have another bag on hand for storage and I keep that in the house so it is not exposed to too much moisture, heat or too much temperature changes. I have stored about 3 months over the winter outside in the shed and the chickens ate it the same as newly purchased feed, however anything older than 4 months, and the chickens didn't care for it.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

thecatumbrella
    • Like
    • Love
Anyone else have picky eaters?
7 8 9
Replies
83
Views
6K
Saaniya
Saaniya
chkncrazy
    • Like
Pellets or crumbles picky hens/ late molting
2
Replies
14
Views
1K
chkncrazy
chkncrazy
MaryKK
    • Like
The Girls Have gone Off Their Feed!
Replies
9
Views
893
ShrekDawg
ShrekDawg
Krux5506
    • Like
Thoughts and Observations on Protein
3 4 5
Replies
44
Views
3K
Huntmaster
Huntmaster
C
Feed my chickens incorrectly since 6 weeks old.
Replies
7
Views
672
Mamagirl3
M

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom