Feed questions....??

[WhoDatChick]

Why does the feed get really hot in the bag? I keep my feed.. All Flock Raiser... pellets and crumbles.. inside my house.. I was keeping it in the bag inside of a Rubbermaid tote with lid... I removed the lid as the inside of the tote was getting wet.. now I keep one bag in a tin garbage can and one in the tote with lid off... but the feed still get really hot inside ... is it cooking/fermenting?

 

[WhoDatChick]

@aart @rjohns39 @BY Bob @HuffleClaw @mixedUPturk
Anything yall might know to keep the feed cool and dry?

 

[aart]

as the inside of the tote was getting wet

Have no clue...could be a weird balance between temps and humidity causing condensation.
Is your house air conditioned where you store the feed?
Did feed get hot in the car on the way home?
Is the feed fresh? Look at MFG date on sew band.

 

[BY Bob]

Most likely there is moisture of some kind in the feed and it is fermenting and creating heat. The question is why is there moisture? My guess would be change in temperature causing condensation. Does your feed get hit by the sun? The warming from the sun and then subsequent cooling can cause water to condense. Any changes in temp like that can cause moisture. The more feed in one concentrated location, the easier it is for this to occur.

Because of that I separate my feed into small pretzel containers. It also makes it easier to transport to the coop. Here are some mealy worms in one of those container.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Have no clue...could be a weird balance between temps and humidity causing condensation.
Is your house air conditioned where you store the feed?
Did feed get hot in the car on the way home?
Is the feed fresh? Look at MFG date on sew band.

Even if its getting slightly wet that wouldnt be enough to make it ferment would it? I did fermented feed before took alota water but i dont see any other reason the feed could be hot either :/ my feed is stored on my back porch inside my laundry room not air conditioned but protected and havent had any issues like that :/ i had to stop fermenting because i Like the smell of fresh feed so much.

 

[aart]

Even if its getting slightly wet that wouldnt be enough to make it ferment would it?

It might.


@WhoDatChick Does it smell funky?
How hot is it?...stick a good thermometer in there.
Did you check the MFG date?
Another thought, any sign of grain mites in there?
Have had problems this time of year with grain mites in FR.

 

[Folly's place]

My feed is stored in it's bags, in metal garbage cans, out in the coop. It stays dry, no problems. I do buy within one month of the mill date on each bag, and use it up within another two to four weeks max.
Mary

 

[BY Bob]

Even if its getting slightly wet that wouldnt be enough to make it ferment would it? I did fermented feed before took alota water but i dont see any other reason the feed could be hot either :/ my feed is stored on my back porch inside my laundry room not air conditioned but protected and havent had any issues like that :/ i had to stop fermenting because i Like the smell of fresh feed so much.

It does not take much moisture to start the fermentation process. Once the process starts the heat differential creates more moisture and the cycle builds. This is why a bail of damp hay put into barn can cause a barn fire over time from the heat produced by rotting process. That's why I separate my feed and don't keep it in bulk.

@aart is right also in that the age of the feed cam contribute to the problem. The feed either came moist or somehow moisture is getting into it. I would look to control the entry of moisture if it is happening with more than 1 bag of feed.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Have no clue...could be a weird balance between temps and humidity causing condensation.
Is your house air conditioned where you store the feed?
Did feed get hot in the car on the way home?
Is the feed fresh? Look at MFG date on sew band.

Yes, house ac... and they had just taken it off of the truck that delivers to the store.. no, not hot in car... but this also happened to the other bags I bought in the past... but you know, now that I’m thinking about it I wonder if it’s the brand cuz I don’t remember this happening with the other kind I used to buy.. and I kept that outside... and is it normal for it to turn to powder?

 

[WhoDatChick]

Most likely there is moisture of some kind in the feed and it is fermenting and creating heat. The question is why is there moisture? My guess would be change in temperature causing condensation. Does your feed get hit by the sun? The warming from the sun and then subsequent cooling can cause water to condense. Any changes in temp like that can cause moisture. The more feed in one concentrated location, the easier it is for this to occur.

Because of that I separate my feed into small pretzel containers. It also makes it easier to transport to the coop. Here are some mealy worms in one of those container.
View attachment 1837017

It does not get hit by sun.. it’s in a dark place.. maybe I’ll try separating it... thanks! I have no clue as to why this is happening.. the room is cool...