Chicken feed problems

[Chris King]

I know I go outside and everything that I have they want even if it's bad for them they especially like to try and eat skittles LOL

Yes, my girls are very curious and at least peck at things I have in my hand - they've even tried to drink my wine when I sit outside with them on a summer evening

But if they don't like it, they leave it. At least, well-fed chickens do, in my experience.

 

[Chris King]

I smelled the chicken feed and it smells kind of like mustardy grain I could see myself eating it if it wasn't abnormal to do so it almost smell like saltwater aquariums like when you don't change the water in time don't know if anyone here has any experience with aquariums though

If you're saying that it has kind of a sour smell, it may well be "off." Mycotoxin-tainted feeds often have that kind of smell to me.

 

[Chris King]

Oh one more thing we keep the feed In a plastic trash can so idk if that has anything to do with it ? The trash can has only been used for chicken feed so nothing could have left a residue that the ladies find unpalatable

The plastic bin itself shouldn't be an issue. But once a big bag of feed is opened, the contents start to oxidize, and any fat or oil mixed in the feed can go rancid over time. That'll happen in any enclosed container as long as there's a good bit of air space between the lid and the feed.

The best example I can think of is when you get toward the bottom of a 40-lb bag of dry dog food (if you have dogs, you'll know what I mean): it stinks compared with the smell of a freshly opened bag. That "off" smell is rancid fat/oil. It just smells really stale and unpleasant.

 

[Chris King]

I know I go outside and everything that I have they want even if it's bad for them they especially like to try and eat skittles LOL

Who said skittles are bad?!

 

[cute bantams]

Hey i love skittles but don't think the chickens would feel well they are hyper enough with out ingesting a ton of sugar LOL I will have to buy some new feed I suppose I have a dog but he's so tiny we buy mini bags so luckily I don't have crushed dog food but I do have two aquariums so I get that problem with fish food

do you recommend we buy a smaller amount change storage techniques or buy new food brand etc

 

[cute bantams]

My parents will think I'm crazy going around smelling food all the time LOL but I don't mind they probably already think I'm a bit off

sometimes

 

[Chris King]

Hey i love skittles but don't think the chickens would feel well they are hyper enough with out ingesting a ton of sugar LOL I will have to buy some new feed I suppose I have a dog but he's so tiny we buy mini bags so luckily I don't have crushed dog food but I do have two aquariums so I get that problem with fish food

do you recommend we buy a smaller amount change storage techniques or buy new food brand etc

Oh, yes… yours are bantams, right? Yes, one skittle might send your little girls to the moon and back!

I'm not familiar with the brand of chicken food you mentioned, so I don't know whether it'd be best to switch to a different brand or simply buy a fresh bag of the same stuff. If they've eaten it well in the past, then this problem may simply be a one-off instance of spoilage, so you can stick with the same brand. That's a big advantage if it's the only food you can find locally. (I'm trying to go organic, or at least nonGMO, and I have to drive 35 mins to the nearest place that sells organic chicken feed

)

If you're feeding only a small flock (or tiny tummies), and your only option is to buy the chicken feed in 40-lb bags, then it might be worth transferring it into large ziplock bags (they come in 2+ gallon sizes) - squeeze all of the air out before you zip them closed - and storing them in your big plastic garbage bin in a cool, dry place. The point is to avoid exposing the bulk of the feed to air until you're ready to use it.

Hope this helps. Sorry I can't be more use.

 

[cute bantams]

Oh you don't have to apologize your help is much appreciated I actually have standard hens but they are very small I do love bantams and I'm planing on getting some lemon blue oeg bantams but typically we buy two bags maybe we have to get only one at a time our feed store is about 15 - 20 minutes away they used to sell a brand of food the hens loved but they stopped selling it and the closest place that does sell it is about 100 miles away

I used to feed purina but I stopped because I think it is gmo right ? They liked it relatively well though

 

[cute bantams]

They haven't really eaten this brand but tits the only one we can buy in our locality they have purina but I think it's gmo in our area but I'm not sure … maybe I should call them tomorrow and ask

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... can't let anyone see me sampling the chicken food though LOL... I'm with you miss bantams.
That's why I have curtains on the windows and a lock on the door in my chicken house LOL LOL.