Grain bugs in scratch?

[Link120]

So, today we ran out of a bag of 5-grain scratch, so I opened a new one, and inside I found it was infested with grain bugs. Should we return it or let them eat it?

 

[icy_flames]

I would be OK with feeding my chickens that scratch. Bonus bug protein right there

 

[3KillerBs]

So, today we ran out of a bag of 5-grain scratch, so I opened a new one, and inside I found it was infested with grain bugs. Should we return it or let them eat it?

If it just came from the store I'd return it for a refund and be wary about buying anything from them until they've had time to sort out the bug problem.

If you've have it for a while then the problem might have come from the store or from your storage (you'll want to very thoroughly scrub down your storage area with appropriate measures taken to eliminate bugs). In that case, I'd either feed it with plans to use it up quickly or, if you don't have enough birds to eat it quickly without screwing up their nutrition, to dump it.

If you have enough property to dump it in the woods away from houses and coops that would be good wildlife food. Alternately, trash it double-bagged.

 

[Coops Dad]

Seeing as it's just a 5-lb bag, you could spread it in a casserole pan, put it in the oven at 200* until it hits 180* in the middle, then pour it into a sealed container. That'll kill both the bugs and any eggs they've laid.

 

[aart]

So, today we ran out of a bag of 5-grain scratch, so I opened a new one, and inside I found it was infested with grain bugs. Should we return it or let them eat it?

What kind of bugs?

Seeing as it's just a 5-lb bag, you could spread it in a casserole pan, put it in the oven at 200* until it hits 180* in the middle, then pour it into a sealed container. That'll kill both the bugs and any eggs they've laid.

Did I miss the 5lb bag reference?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

What kind of bugs?


Did I miss the 5lb bag reference?

I suspect @Coops Dad needs more coffee. I read 5-grain as 5-pound on the first read thru as well. Third cup fixed that.



Usually does.

 

[Banana01]

Bugs are a part of life for some places, the bugs eat a lot and leave behind a less quality feed of just the hollow shells and husks after they eat all the valuable nutrition content. Depending on the size of your infestation and how fresh is the feed, i expect some bugs where i get my feed.

The freshness of the feed trumps any minor bug infestation. I begin a month with 100 pound bags and a minor bug infestation, and by the end of the month the feed is still good. After 6 weeks, getting to the end of the barrel, the feed quality is visibly poorer in the last 10% of the feed that remains. Then i empty/clean out the barrel and add a fresh sack even with a few bugs and start the cycle over.I always will have bugs, but always start a cycle with fresh feed and with a month supply.

 

[3KillerBs]

Bugs are a part of life for some places, the bugs eat a lot and leave behind a less quality feed of just the hollow shells and husks after they eat all the valuable nutrition content. Depending on the size of your infestation and how fresh is the feed, i expect some bugs where i get my feed.

The freshness of the feed trumps any minor bug infestation. I begin a month with 100 pound bags and a minor bug infestation, and by the end of the month the feed is still good. After 6 weeks, getting to the end of the barrel, the feed quality is visibly poorer in the last 10% of the feed that remains. Then i empty/clean out the barrel and add a fresh sack even with a few bugs and start the cycle over.I always will have bugs, but always start a cycle with fresh feed and with a month supply.

I always enjoy your posts because you offer a different perspective.

 

[Coops Dad]

I suspect @Coops Dad needs more coffee. I read 5-grain as 5-pound on the first read thru as well. Third cup fixed that.



Usually does.

Yeah, I'm at the tail end of my day and long past the caffeinated portion of the night shift. I must've hallucinated the 5-lb part because I knew it was 5 grain scratch. Well, the temperatures are right anyway. Multiple batches?

 

[Link120]

Seeing as it's just a 5-lb bag, you could spread it in a casserole pan, put it in the oven at 200* until it hits 180* in the middle, then pour it into a sealed container. That'll kill both the bugs and any eggs they've laid.

It is 5-grain scratch.