Dates on Feed Bag

[chickens really]

Neither are soybeans, but if they are cracked, they are not whole & it blows the whole theory of whole feed lasting longer than pellets!

Exactly .....Too many debates and I'm off..

 

[ChickNanny13]

Agreed. Immediately after milling, grains start to oxidize. So, it makes sense to me that feeding whole or freshly cracked grains would be preferable to feeding a finely milled product. The only reason why pelleted, crumbled, and mash feeds are popular IMO is that it's easy for the customer to dump pellets out of a bag, and not have to give it a second thought. Now, here's a question. Why is it more expensive to buy a bag of pellets which have a lot of processing involved than it is to buy whole or cracked grain feeds which have been blended to provide the same nutrients?

Pellets probably cost more due to more processing, if that makes any sense. I would rather pay more of quality than ease of feeding. However, here/Hawaii, we have no choice.

From Purina:
Personally, like many of you, I will not buy a bag of feed that is three months old, which is why I stopped shopping at Tractor Supply and now shop at a local farm store that gets fresh bags in weekly.

Dels has a weekly shipment (Thurs) but they get what is shipped to them, we buy what they have or livestock don't eat. There is another feed store (Miranda's) that is locally owned but their feed is shipped also and same issues ...

The joys of living in "paradise", limited availability.

 

[ChickNanny13]

UPDATE - Got a call from the State Representative for Purina (livestock) feed. The Mill Date is on the white pull off edging. The black lettering on the side of the bag, he is suspecting has something to do with the manufacture of the bag.

It takes about 2wks (ours come from Portland, ORE) from the Mill Date for feed to get to us/Hawaii; trucking & shipping; that if the Mill Date was Dec 15 it got here early January, then if the marine weather is really bad the barge can not come to port. So if I purchased the bag in Feb, it was "fresh". He recommended that anytime I got dusty feed or an issue with the feed I purchase, to take pictures & return to the feed store.

I was also informed that feed mites are always there, given the right conditions the eggs will hatch. The processing of the crumbles & pellets will kill the mites but not the eggs. That by my freezing the bag, it slows down the development. Dang, don't want to find any in my freezer! Says that feed once open should be used up ASAP ... Told him I only have 4 & ferment so a bag lasts me at least 2 mos. In the past they sold 25# bags but now everything is 50# ... Guess I need more chickens

 

[debid]

UPDATE - Got a call from the State Representative for Purina (livestock) feed. The Mill Date is on the white pull off edging. The black lettering on the side of the bag, he is suspecting has something to do with the manufacture of the bag.

It takes about 2wks (ours come from Portland, ORE) from the Mill Date for feed to get to us/Hawaii; trucking & shipping; that if the Mill Date was Dec 15 it got here early January, then if the marine weather is really bad the barge can not come to port. So if I purchased the bag in Feb, it was "fresh". He recommended that anytime I got dusty feed or an issue with the feed I purchase, to take pictures & return to the feed store.

I was also informed that feed mites are always there, given the right conditions the eggs will hatch. The processing of the crumbles & pellets will kill the mites but not the eggs. That by my freezing the bag, it slows down the development. Dang, don't want to find any in my freezer! Says that feed once open should be used up ASAP ... Told him I only have 4 & ferment so a bag lasts me at least 2 mos. In the past they sold 25# bags but now everything is 50# ... Guess I need more chickens

More chickens is always the right answer

 

[lazy gardener]

Says that feed once open should be used up ASAP

Interesting. Since the feed is not in an air-tight bag, I can't quite figure out how it would remain fresh until the bag gets opened! That the feed rep would even mention that the feed should be used ASAP after opening kind of contradicts what the feed store employees are saying when they tell a customer that the feed is good for 6 months or longer, now... doesn't it???

 

[ChickNanny13]

I never believe what "officials" say, I listen but then use common sense. Can't believe everything we're told by those that have something to loose. The Rep saying "to use ASAP" I took to mean less chance of feed mites being an issue due to the wet/humid conditions we have here. I was told that "the feed is good for 6 + months" but seriously we all know the sooner used & fresher the bag, the better. We know that but "they" are covering their butts. Life is full of characters ....