Bugs in feed - thoughts and comments?

[Shelbysoobs]

Give me all your thoughts and comments on these bugs in my organic chick starter, I called the feed store and complained because I do not have a truck and now there’s bugs crawling everywhere in my car, and they’re all over me, and there’s 100 more in the feed bag. Do these bugs eat the nutrition in the food and is it going to affect my birds consequently by depleting the feed? Are the bugs no big deal and an added bonus because of the chickens eating the bugs along with the feed? Would you be upset if you opened the bag and found this? Not sure what to think. The feed store completely blew me off and told me I could bring the bag back for a new one, but again, there’s hundreds of bugs in it and my car has enough bugs in it as it is, and I certainly don’t want to put the bag back in my car and end up with even more bugs in my Car.

Am I overreacting?

 

[nuthatched]

That's pretty bad. They did offer to exchange the bag, I'm not sure what else they can do. Just exchange it. Chances are it came like that to the store from the main warehouse, if it's a chain store .

Get some permethrine and spray your car, they die off quickly.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Those are Red Flour Beetles. Not completely uncommon to find in dried pantry grain products or animal feeds. They eat the feed starting with the dust and smaller particles working their way up. Their waste also causes feed to grow mold. However, they are edible to chickens. Personally I would burn that bag before having to put it back in my car to return it. That’s quite the infestation.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

Those are Red Flour Beetles. Not completely uncommon to find in dried pantry grain products or animal feeds. They eat the feed starting with the dust and smaller particles working their way up. Their waste also causes feed to grow mold. However, they are edible to chickens. Personally I would burn that bag before having to put it back in my car to return it. That’s quite the infestation.

I just left it sitting outside unsure what to do with it… it was almost dark and I definitely didn’t want to give it to my chickens or put it back in my car.. I guess I’ll go back to the farm in the morning and throw it in the trash. I don’t feel comfortable burning it.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

That's pretty bad. They did offer to exchange the bag, I'm not sure what else they can do. Just exchange it. Chances are it came like that to the store from the main warehouse, if it's a chain store .

Get some permethrine and spray your car, they die off quickly.

I have a baby I drive in my car all the time, car seats, stroller in the trunk… I definitely don’t feel comfortable spraying my car. Will they go away on their own if the food source is gone?? (I.e. I left the bag sitting outside until I can deal with it tomorrow)

 

[nuthatched]

I have a baby I drive in my car all the time, car seats, stroller in the trunk… I definitely don’t feel comfortable spraying my car. Will they go away on their own if the food source is gone?? (I.e. I left the bag sitting outside until I can deal with it tomorrow)

Probably, but it may take a few days. Keep you windows down

 

[Shelbysoobs]

Probably, but it may take a few days. Keep you windows down

Thanks lol will do!!!

 

[Al Gerhart]

Got a close up of a beetle? Might be darkling beetle, AKA the adult form of the yellow meal worm that people pay big bucks for. Considered a real threat in commercial flocks, they eat the dead chickens that might get buried in the litter, spreading disease.

Other than having a ton of beetles and eventually a bunch more meal worms, the conversion between feed and into meal worms will have some inefficacy or waste, leading to a loss of nutrients. Might increase the chances of mold too. Hard to see how they can get enough moisture to survive so maybe one generation of adult beetles invaded, the larvae or meal worms might not make it to turning into adults without some moisture.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

Got a close up of a beetle? Might be darkling beetle, AKA the adult form of the yellow meal worm that people pay big bucks for. Considered a real threat in commercial flocks, they eat the dead chickens that might get buried in the litter, spreading disease.

Other than having a ton of beetles and eventually a bunch more meal worms, the conversion between feed and into meal worms will have some inefficacy or waste, leading to a loss of nutrients. Might increase the chances of mold too. Hard to see how they can get enough moisture to survive so maybe one generation of adult beetles invaded, the larvae or meal worms might not make it to turning into adults without some moisture.

I’m on my way back to the farm so I’ll take a look and see if they’re still in the bag of feed and snap a closer pic.

 

[Jdaig]

Give me all your thoughts and comments on these bugs in my organic chick starter, I called the feed store and complained because I do not have a truck and now there’s bugs crawling everywhere in my car, and they’re all over me, and there’s 100 more in the feed bag. Do these bugs eat the nutrition in the food and is it going to affect my birds consequently by depleting the feed? Are the bugs no big deal and an added bonus because of the chickens eating the bugs along with the feed? Would you be upset if you opened the bag and found this? Not sure what to think. The feed store completely blew me off and told me I could bring the bag back for a new one, but again, there’s hundreds of bugs in it and my car has enough bugs in it as it is, and I certainly don’t want to put the bag back in my car and end up with even more bugs in my Car.

Am I overreacting?

Hello! I am dealing with this right now, I ordered mine from chewy though, organic chick feed as well. Did you ever contact the main manufacturer?