Bugs in the food

[Rusty66211]

I bought a bag of feed at the feedstore and when I opened it I noticed that it had little dark brown bugs in it should I feed it or not. Also the bag of shavings I got from there has white mold in it. The shavings come in plastic bags and are kept in their shed. With the temps in the 100's for weeks I am sure that they are sweating . But can I still use the shavings or should I go back and exchange them?

 

[Imp]

Exchange. Not worth the potential trouble.

Imp

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

I would not use either, though the mold in the shavings concerns me FAR more than the bugs in the feed which sound like some sort of meal bug, I have seen them myself at bulk grain stores.

 

[Kansaseq]

The bugs shouldnt hurt the birds, but I wouldn't use the shavings. I would take BOTH back and get a refund. They shouldn't be selling bug infested food or moldy shavings. That's not what you paid for.

 

[Mrs. Glassman]

We get the mealy bugs in EVERYTHING here. I can't have a bag of flour, or a bag of beans in the cabinets.
I have to put anything like that in my freezer.

As for the chicken food....yeap, they get in that too. I've noticed the chickens prefering the bugs over the food sometimes. They hunt them down, and peck them out first.

Chances are if they are in one bag, they will be in another as well....it's just extra protien that you didn't have to pay for....just don't store it in your house.

The moldy bedding would go back with a quickness.

 

[digitS']

Mrs. Glassman :

....it's just extra protien that you didn't have to pay for.....

No, there won't be more protein in that bag now than before the bugs showed up. The insects are just converting plant protein into animal protein and losing some of the food value of the feed in the process.

In fact, they are leaving their wastes in the feed which will encourage molds and bacteria. All in all, it is neither a healthy nor economical situation.

Steve​

 

[speckledhen]

I return ANY bags with bugs in them, or did when I was buying them at the Southern States feedstore (the co-op's feed is fresh and bug-free). The reason is that the bugs deplete the vitamin content of the feed and can pass disease through their waste. Nope, no bugs unless they are crawling on the ground for my birds.