does scratch go stale?

[Ballerina Bird]

I have only two hens, and I limit the amount of scratch I give them, so as a consequence, I am realizing that the bin of scratch I have is a year old now. They sell it only in 25-lb bags, so I had to get a lot at once. The brand is Scratch 'n' Peck, and it looks like it is mostly whole grains with a bit of dried corn. Does scratch become stale and unsafe for birds to eat? I keep the bin inside the house, and it is airtight, so no moisture or bugs can get in.

 

[nchls school]

Yes, it does become stale and less nutritious. You can lengthen its shelf life by keeping the feed in an air tight container and in a cool dry place.

 

[Den in Penn]

Whole grains last a very long time. A couple years at least. Cracked grains go bad in a much shorter amount of time, of at best months. As ncls school says store it properly to give your feed the longest life you can.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

Thanks! This is helpful. I think Scrath 'n' Peck's whole "gimmick" is that they use whole grains only, so I think that is what I'm working with.