Can chicken feed go bad?

[juliamichell]

I bought a cheap bag of grain, crushed corn, barley etc. which seems quite dusty. When I fed it to chook she got small lumpy black poo with water. I think it was the food as it seemed to go away. Then when I fed her just a small amount it happened again. I am worried the food has bacteria? It does not smell bad. Should I just throw it away, 10 kilos. or could I feed it the wild birds, but I worry it might have the same effect. It came from a local farm, properly bagged and labelled but was half the price of normal grain.

 

[aart]

I bought a cheap bag of grain, crushed corn, barley etc. which seems quite dusty. When I fed it to chook she got small lumpy black poo with water. I think it was the food as it seemed to go away. Then when I fed her just a small amount it happened again. I am worried the food has bacteria? It does not smell bad. Should I just throw it away, 10 kilos. or could I feed it the wild birds, but I worry it might have the same effect. It came from a local farm, properly bagged and labelled but was half the price of normal grain.

Replied here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/can-food-be-bad.1341782/#post-22001982

 

[ChickenCanoe]

While I agree to a point with the previous poster who stated that whole properly dried grains can last a long time if stored properly, the same is not true of feed.
Historically there are examples of grain lasting a year or longer but that certainly isn't ideal. Whole grains need special care. Depending on the fat content of the grain -which all grains have - they are negatively affected by heat, light and moisture. In a sealed container in a cool dry place, they can last 6 months. They can last a year in the freezer.
However, the question was about feed. Once the hull of a grain is broken it quickly loses nutrients. That's because the protective bran layer no longer protects the grain from oxygen which can then reach all parts of the grain. The grains in feed are ground so the shelf life is much shorter than for whole grain. Most feed contains preservatives but that only goes so far. Stored in a cool dry place in an airtight container it should be good for 3 months - 6 months in the freezer.
The best course of action for those who must buy bagged feed at a feed store is to always check the mill date which will be on every bag of feed. It is either on the guaranteed analysis tag or on the seal top or bottom of the bag. Some companies use the Julian date.
I try to buy feed that is less than 2 months old but that isn't always possible. If one only has a few chickens, that becomes problematic.
Some companies are good about rotating their stock. Others are much less honest.
I've seen feed on store shelves over a year old they hope an unsuspecting customer will buy.

 

[CamTheChknKeeper]

I've seen feed on store shelves over a year old they hope an unsuspecting customer will buy.

Ah. Thank you. Our store is frequented enough I don’t have to worry about that, but I’m grateful for all your info!
I only have two large birds, so from now I will think about smaller bags. Even with just a few though, I fed a whole sack over 5 or so months. My birds free-range during daylight, but I want to be sure they get adequate nutrition.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ah. Thank you. Our store is frequented enough I don’t have to worry about that, but I’m grateful for all your info!
I only have two large birds, so from now I will think about smaller bags. Even with just a few though, I fed a whole sack over 5 or so months. My birds free-range during daylight, but I want to be sure they get adequate nutrition.

Our feed store is frequented a lot too......I do still see feed there with mill dates 8+ months prior.
Do still check the dates.

 

[CamTheChknKeeper]

Our feed store is frequented a lot too......I do still see feed there with mill dates 8+ months prior.
Do still check the dates.

Okay, thanks! I will.

 

[DMOTS]

When I made my Big Feeder I had 30 chickens. I am down to 20 now but still that's a lot of chickens to feed. They also free range. Even though they have access to pasture they like to scratch around in the dirt only areas. When I go out in the evening they follow me around because I give them treats. LOL