Flock Raiser dated July 8th

[Wil781]

How long is chicken feed good for? I bought a large bag of Flock Raiser dated July 8th and I ferment their food so getting a little worried if this bag will be eaten before I have to throw it away.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

How long is chicken feed good for? I bought a larges bag of Flock Raiser dated July 8th and I ferment their food so getting a little worried if this bag will be eaten before I have to throw it away.

At least six months. I work for a Purina dealer.

 

[Wil781]

At least six months. I work for a Purina dealer.

Oh ok I guess you would know. I guess it will be gone by then. Thank you so much!

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Oh ok I guess you would know. I guess it will be gone by then. Thank you so much!

You’re welcome.

 

[lazy gardener]

I disagree with that statement. Feed rapidly oxidizes after it's been milled. Jeff Mattocks, in the excellent book (The Small Scale Poultry Flock) written by Harvey Ussery states: "Feeds are at their optimum levels for up to 14 days, and are satisfactory up to 45 days after grinding or milling. After 45 days, the feed is generally so stale or oxidized that poultry appetite will be serverely depressed. Oxidation starts immediately after the grinding or cracking of the grain." (Direct quote from p 158.) I am much more likely to put stock in the word of a well respected and published individual than someone who profits from their advice re: nutritional value of old feed.

 

[Folly's place]

July 8th is good! I want to buy feed within one month of the mill date, and use it up within another three weeks or so. Never six months!!!
Mary

 

[4 ever Orpington]

You’re welcome.

Purina guarantees their feed to remain fresh for six months from milling date. I’ve been feeding and selling the product for ten years . With no troubles. My experience not necessarily no one else’s.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Some info from Merck Veterinary Manual.
Quote; Non-nutrient antioxidants, such as ethoxyquin, are usually added to poultry diets to protect vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids from oxidation.
All vitamins are subject to degradation over time, and this process is accelerated by moisture, oxygen, trace minerals, heat, and light.
Stabilized vitamin preparations and generous margins of safety are often applied to account for these losses. This is especially true if diets are pelleted, extruded, or stored for long periods. Unquote.

I had chicken feed go bad at 5 months past mill date, was not Purina feed. I brought the feed from a independent feed store. The feed was stored in a warehouse behind the store and was 2 months past mill date when I received it last February.
So it may have been exposed to fluctuating temps and humidity.
I keep the feed in my house and scooped out what I needed to fill feeder.
Anyways I discovered the feed went bad when egg production dropped nearly in half.
I checked the feed in the feeder and it looked good. I smelled the feed and it had a strong smell. I smelled the bag of feed and it also had a strong smell.
I bought new fresh feed (smelled like fresh grains) and washed and filled the feeder and in a couple of days egg production was back to normal.
I no longer buy feed if I can't see if it's fresh beforehand and I am buying a smaller bag that I can use up within 5 months of mill date. I keep the feed in a tightly closed bag in my house. GC

 

[Folly's place]

This is also part of the story; you have no control of the storage conditions between the mill date and your purchase. Fresher is better!
Mary

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

What do you guys use to store your feed?