Is this mold in the crumbles?

[Madhouse Pullet]

Regardless of what it is or isn't, the fact remains that the feed is too old to use by this point. Anything older than 4 months is a risk. He should know better than to sell feed this old. He wants to turn a profit and keep selling it, which makes sense from a seller's point of view, and it helps his case that these feed products don't have an expiration date like human food does - so he's not forced by law to pull them off the shelves after a certain point. He can keep trying to pass them off to less experienced buyers who don't know to watch out for mill dates or look for fresher feed. It doesn't have to be a malicious act on his part at all - maybe he doesn't believe there's anything wrong with the feed, or maybe times are hard for his business and he's trying to sell whatever he can. Or maybe he just doesn't know any better (being "the chicken guy" is no guarantee for knowledge and experience, he could just be the guy they assigned to the poultry section and nothing more). I don't like food waste either, but at the same time, chickens are very sensitive to nutritional deficiencies and can develop all kinds of problems from an insufficient diet, so I wouldn't risk it.

That makes a lot of sense, and very insightful. Thank you so much! Definitely a lesson learned buying their food in the future.

 

[RoosterWhisperer]

It looks darker to me.
View attachment 2988629
With some black pieces.
View attachment 2988638

View attachment 2988642
The only date listed on the bag
View attachment 2988645
08-28-2021, is that the expiration?

Looks okay to me!

Hey MP, how are ya?

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Regardless of what it is or isn't, the fact remains that the feed is too old to use by this point. Anything older than 4 months is a risk. He should know better than to sell feed this old. He wants to turn a profit and keep selling it, which makes sense from a seller's point of view, and it helps his case that these feed products don't have an expiration date like human food does - so he's not forced by law to pull them off the shelves after a certain point. He can keep trying to pass them off to less experienced buyers who don't know to watch out for mill dates or look for fresher feed. It doesn't have to be a malicious act on his part at all - maybe he doesn't believe there's anything wrong with the feed, or maybe times are hard for his business and he's trying to sell whatever he can. Or maybe he just doesn't know any better (being "the chicken guy" is no guarantee for knowledge and experience, he could just be the guy they assigned to the poultry section and nothing more). I don't like food waste either, but at the same time, chickens are very sensitive to nutritional deficiencies and can develop all kinds of problems from an insufficient diet, so I wouldn't risk it.

The feed is not too old to use, it is on the high side of what you want but it is not too old as long as it is fed soon. The six month rule is a guideline, since the feed has been stored in the cold months it has less of a chance of the vitamin degradation that concerns us as feed ages.

 

[RoosterWhisperer]

The feed is not too old to use, it is on the high side of what you want but it is not too old as long as it is fed soon. The six month rule is a guideline, since the feed has been stored in the cold months it has less of a chance of the vitamin degradation that concerns us as feed ages.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

The feed is not too old to use, it is on the high side of what you want but it is not too old as long as it is fed soon. The six month rule is a guideline, since the feed has been stored in the cold months it has less of a chance of the vitamin degradation that concerns us as feed ages.

It does appear darker in color.

Is it just me?

 

[K0k0shka]

The feed is not too old to use, it is on the high side of what you want but it is not too old as long as it is fed soon. The six month rule is a guideline, since the feed has been stored in the cold months it has less of a chance of the vitamin degradation that concerns us as feed ages.

Maybe so, but is it worth the risk? I had a hen develop wry neck out of nowhere back when I didn’t know to check mill dates, I’d been feeding old feed (over 4 months). She improved significantly with vitamin E and selenium treatment, and fresher feed. And now I check dates diligently. Was it the feed? There’s no way to know for sure, but I do know that a vitamin E deficiency does cause wry neck. So I’d rather not find out. Anything older than 4 months gets tossed out (or not bought at all).

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Maybe so, but is it worth the risk? I had a hen develop wry neck out of nowhere back when I didn’t know to check mill dates, I’d been feeding old feed (over 4 months). She improved significantly with vitamin E and selenium treatment, and fresher feed. And now I check dates diligently. Was it the feed? There’s no way to know for sure, but I do know that a vitamin E deficiency does cause wry neck. So I’d rather not find out. Anything older than 4 months gets tossed out (or not bought at all).

Modern commercial feeds have preservatives that help with vitamin survival plus most feeds are fortified to be well in excess of the published requirements. Were I in the OP's shoes I would fill the feeder and make sure the next bags of feed are fresher.