How long does it Last? (Food Question)

[MyNameIs86]

So last year I kind of bought a 10 lb bag from a feed store here in Northern New Jersey around the same time now, unfortunately no chicks had hatched leaving me with a 10 lb bag of food. I'm curious how long does dry food last for chickens? Can I use it? (Pics below) or am I out of luck (and 10 lbs of food)

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If you kept it in the freezer the whole time, you can use it fine. However, you probably didn't which means it is too old.

Feed keeps under cool dry conditons (optimal storage cond.) for 3-4 months from my experience. If you are storing it in winter in your garage you might be able to squeeze a bit longer from it. But really, the vitamins degrade and you are left with what could cause vitamin deficiencies.

Vitamin deficiencies in chickens are not pretty.

If you cannot bring yourself to throw it out (really I know how this feels), and it has zero mold or bugs in it, you can mix it into the feed at a very dilute rate but I highly recommend you do this NOT when they are growing chicks.

I would put it into the freezer straightaway so and wait until they are more resilient adults before serving them the feed mixed into fresh feed at a very diluted rate. Understand though that vitamin deficiencies could still arise and thus the best course of action is to toss it.

I myself have fed feed that was "too old" mixed in with fresh feed with good results but NOT to baby chicks- also my adult hens are on fresh green forage and receive lots of table scraps and other food.

I have also lost chickens to moldy food. I had thrown some food on the ground and they didn't clean it up in time, and it rained on it.

Whole grains and seeds keep longer than the cracked commercial grains do.

If there is mold in the feed at all definitely throw it out as it could kill your chickens.

I hope this helps!