Help with feed MADE date???

[Calichicken2015]

Hi!
I have a question about feed expiration. I have a bag of chick starter which has a made...not expiration date...of 05/2016? How long is it good for? It is made by MannaPro. I am starting my hatch in a couple of weeks and don't want to feed them food that is expired. I purchased it at the most 6 months ago?
Thanks!

 

[eggbert420]

Its good.

 

[Calichicken2015]

Its good.

Thank you! I don't mind throwing it out if its not good, but didn't want to waste it either! How long is it typically good after the made by date?

 

[Folly's place]

I disagree; I only buy feed within 30 days of manufacture. Some vitamins degrade rapidly, and six months is WAY too old. Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi!
I have a question about feed expiration. I have a bag of chick starter which has a made...not expiration date...of 05/2016? How long is it good for? It is made by MannaPro. I am starting my hatch in a couple of weeks and don't want to feed them food that is expired. I purchased it at the most 6 months ago?
Thanks!

That feed is going to be 11 months old by the time you start to use it. A well known poultry feed expert in Harvey Ussery's book The Small-Scale Poultry Flock: An All-Natural Approach to Raising Chickens states that by the time feed is 42 days out of the mill, the nutrients are breaking down, and the oils in the grains are becoming rancid.

I only buy feed within 30 days of manufacture. Some vitamins degrade rapidly, and six months is WAY too old. Mary

Agreed with Mary. If I can't use a bag of feed by the time it's 42 days old, it's not fresh enough for me to buy. And, I've walked out of a feed store empty handed plenty of times, before spending money on old feed.

 

[Den in Penn]

Instead of saving starter for the next group of chicks, just use it up before going to the next feed. Non medicated starter can be used by any age chicken. Grower feed is good for any age as well, although it may be a little light on the protein for chicks. Feeding it out saves on the hassles of storing it.

 

[Calichicken2015]

I disagree; I only buy feed within 30 days of manufacture. Some vitamins degrade rapidly, and six months is WAY too old. Mary

That feed is going to be 11 months old by the time you start to use it. A well known poultry feed expert in Harvey Ussery's book The Small-Scale Poultry Flock: An All-Natural Approach to Raising Chickens states that by the time feed is 42 days out of the mill, the nutrients are breaking down, and the oils in the grains are becoming rancid.

Agreed with Mary. If I can't use a bag of feed by the time it's 42 days old, it's not fresh enough for me to buy. And, I've walked out of a feed store empty handed plenty of times, before spending money on old feed.

Thank you all for the info! Not taking any chances with my babies after they hatch...so getting fresh starter for them

 

[Eggcessive]

Feed the old now, get fresh as you can for the babies. I don't use feed that is dated over 2 months ago. Unfortunately some smaller companies don't put sates on theirs. Old feed can have vitamins leech out, and I have had feed go moldy overnight in warm humid weather. That can kill chickens. If you smell a chemical odor or see any blue or green, get rid of it.

 

[Calichicken2015]

Feed the old now, get fresh as you can for the babies. I don't use feed that is dated over 2 months ago. Unfortunately some smaller companies don't put sates on theirs. Old feed can have vitamins leech out, and I have had feed go moldy overnight in warm humid weather. That can kill chickens. If you smell a chemical odor or see any blue or green, get rid of it.

Thank you! I am getting my hatching eggs next week, so I will get them feed the week they are due to hatch

I am too paranoid about getting them sick, so NOT worth it to even take the chance

 

[lazy gardener]

Feed the old now, get fresh as you can for the babies. I don't use feed that is dated over 2 months ago. Unfortunately some smaller companies don't put sates on theirs. Old feed can have vitamins leech out, and I have had feed go moldy overnight in warm humid weather. That can kill chickens. If you smell a chemical odor or see any blue or green, get rid of it.

Some where on every bag of feed, there should be a mill date. It may be difficult to find. All the feed I buy has the mill date on the end binding. It will either be written as a Julian Date, or simply as a Month and Date. One of the feed stores I buy from will have a Julian Date with a 7 at the end (indicating 2017). If you can't find it, ask the store manager for assistance, or do a google search of the company that produces the feed. As a customer, you have a right to know how fresh the feed is. And if a store manager tells you that feed is good for 6 months, do your shopping elsewhere. They should not give you a hard time about it.

https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E26228_01/doc.93/e21961/julian_date_conv.htm#WEAWX259