Infestation. UNBELIEVABLE.

[Luvin Life]

I also use plastic trash cans or 5 gallon pails with lids. It keeps it airtight and bug free.

 

[natalie1136]

We use rubbermaid storage totes for our feed. So far so good.

 

[nop169]

When it comes to feeds the problem is usually twofold. One is the amount of time it is stored in the warehouse before your local dealer receives it. With tons of feed being delivered weekly it is almost impossible to verify dates on every bag. Weavils are simply going to show up in feed. The egg cases are present on the raw grains & processing into feed often does not kill the eggs. The other issue that contributes to the bugs is the temperature. In the hot summer months it is almost impossible to control the bug issue. July & August here are usually the worst times. The only way to prevent outbreaks is to keep the feed cool - so if your local dealer or the warehouses are not climate controlled you will see bugs to some degree. This year due to the economic depression - many warehouses are not cooling the warehouses & stock rotation is not always followed. Some companies spray insecticides (FROWN!!) on the bags.
So if the bag itself is not pinpricked or looks aged, then you can pretty much tell that your bugs have hatched in the feed recently. It only takes a few days at the right temps for them to emerge. Dry Storage Mites are also a problem in the high temp months... I know this because I own a small feed store & even though we strive to keep this issue under control - I have people return week old bags full of just hatched weevils - with a current production date - during the hot months. We - of course - replace or refund. But it is very hard to tell when bugs have hatched out in a sealed bag... Also note that the weevils will not hurt your chickens!

 

[DiVon80]

Quote:
You just said it!

 

[silkiechick05]

Luckily, my dad went and bought some new food from a different supplier. i think we are going to take that feed back and complain. they shouldn't be selling two year old feed.

thanks for all of your advice