Moths in scratch - Throw it out or use it???

[beachchickie]

Chickens LOVE moths. Chickens LOVE bugs. I'd let the chickens decide. I bet they vote EAT

 

[dawg53]

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I just put a 85% full bag (50# sack)of layer feed in my freezer, used clothespins to help keep it sealed and it helps if you have a chest freezer like I do. If you have a standup freezer you can empty the sack of feed into smaller trash bags and place them in the standup freezer. If you dont have a freezer, ask your relative or neighbor and give them a couple dozen eggs in return for the favor. As far as leaving the bugs in the sack and not doing anything is unwise because it allows the bugs(pests) to procreate and spread. In addition and IMO more importantly the bugs eat the granules of crumbles reducing them to useless byproduct powder; the crumbles contain vitamins, minerals and nutrients that your chickens require and have just been robbed by consuming bugs, a detriment for the chickens health, egg laying and meat production capabilities. Keep in mind it's a waste of money feeding bugs and it's part of biosecurity precautions preventing bugs from getting into feed. BTW; the bugs a very very tiny as are the moths...chickens dont bother messing with them.

 

[birdsNbeesNseeds]

I have had these moths pop up before in my parrot's food. Trust me, you do not want to let the moths get inside your house (or garage) where they can form cocoons on your ceiling. (Yuck!) It is a clean-up nightmare. I have a freezer in my garage and put the food in there. No problems anymore!

 

[zazouse]

I would go feed it to them.

Bay leaves will keep bugs out of feed.

 

[FarmGirl01]

I split my feed up in zip bags and plastic ice cream buckets. Then it goes into the freezer. I just get it out as needed.

 

[KimberlyJ]

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Now there's the best idea so far!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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Lol!!!!

 

[eudyptes]

First of all, the bugs don't matter--the chickens will probably like it better if it's buggy. However, I would be more concerned about the clumping. You say you can't see mold, but it isn't necessarily obvious. My experience with grain tells me that when it's clumpy, it's likely to have been exposed to moisture, which can bring mold, visible or not. I would be very hesitant about giving grain that had gotten moist to birds.

Of course, the moisture could just be bug pee. Not sure if that's better or worse.

 

[teach1rusl]

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Yeah...I took a close look at the "clumping" yesterday and almost wished I hadn't. The clumping is from tiny silks (or something like that) from the shed cocoons of these little worm like creatures (I guess a type of catepillar????) that turn into these moths??? It really grossed me out because I looked closer at my treat jar full of scratch, the one I had just filled BY HAND from my big supply, and saw many of these little worm/catepillar thing squiggling around in there

Gave me the heebie jeebies...

So it's not mold and it's not moth pee...lol. Guess I'll use up this lot and then take better care of (or buy in smaller quantity) the next batch of scratch. But thanks everyone for the feedback and suggestions!

 

[cutechick2010]

Yeah, I was going to say it was probably the silks or webs or whatever you want to call it from the moths. It still won't hurt your birds though, it just means they will be getting the moth larvae as well as adults. Call it a bonus.