Freezing feed?

[SpikeDmax]

What about using vacuum packed bags to store the extra? I have some large 2 gallon vac. bags that would probably hold 5 or more pounds each. I'm leaning towards doing that instead of freezing. Thoughts?

 

[crooked stripe]

Keeping in a vacuum bag would be good if you keep it out of the sun which would make moisture. I also agree with Chris, feed here has been frozen for weeks. If the feed had much moisture in it, the feed would clump.

 

[amyparrotflock]

I'm in the same situation, and without thinking I already froze some of mine when I bought it. the rest I keep in a 5 gallon bucket with the lid closed, if I need more I fill a gallon ziplock, and take it out in that much at a time.

I've frozen my parrot food for years, so I figured why not freeze it? I only have two chickens, and there is NO way my bantam hens are going to go through 50lbs in a timely manner.

 

[Akane]

From my horse nutrition class grain based animal feeds are best used within a couple months if kept in an air tight container. An open bag should be used within weeks. If you transfer it to a rubbermaid container or similar with a good seal (not the ones with open holes along the handle) then it should be good enough for most cases. If you are buying in bulk or have very few animals then you should freeze the feed. It will keep for 6-8months (depending on mill date) frozen before it starts to lose nutrients. I used to do it all the time when I bought guinea pig pellets in bulk. I've also done it with dog food and occasionally actually froze 2 bags of horse feed. We were having the small local feedstore custom order a feed blend for our pregnant mare and got 6months worth. We froze the last 2 bags we were going to use. The only time you lose nutrients freezing is when we are talking fresh vegetables, fruits, etc... that are damaged by the freezing process. These are also damaged by most other forms of storage and maintaining the vit c from any fresh food is near impossible. It always has to be added back in if the animal needs it. Fat soluable vitamins like vit E generally are lost next but are stable enough to handle freezing. It's more time and air exposure or excess drying that remove these.

Also it helps to actually keep your feed in the smallest containers possible. Don't dump it all in one big container. Every time you open the container you let in air. If you divide it up then much less of the feed is exposed to air before you start using it.

 

[littlelemon]

I have to drive 45 minutes to get my feed, so I usually buy enough to last for several months at a time. I always put 100lbs. into my deep freeze and use those bags last. It still smells fresh after it has thawed out and I put it into my feed bin.