New coop planning - best feed/water ideas?

[lazy gardener]

That's a huge amount of feed. Are they billing a lot out into the litter? Is your feed in a secure, rodent proof container?

 

[donrae]

I'm new to this as well, my chicks are supposed to hatch April 16th, so I only know what I've read. Regarding buying extra feed ahead of time, I read that you only want to buy enough to keep one month in advance and that you should check the manufacture date on the bag to make sure it's fresh. Apparently feed can begin to go bad and/or lose quality as it ages. This was from Harvey Ussery's book, Small Scale Poultry Flock.

Does anyone have conflicting information on this?

This is in no way research based, just my own little brain working...

chicken feed is made of grains--mostly corn, wheat and soy. Those grains are each harvested once per year to my knowledge--I know wheat has different seasons depending on the type, and I'm not sure what kind is used in chicken feed. Anyway, those grains are stored in some manner from time of harvest until they're fed to the animal. If you buy feed in Feb, you're still buying last summer's harvest, cause no one cuts corn in Feb in the US. So to my way of thinking, why does it matter if those grains are stored at the mill, or in my barn?

I try to have 2 months supply on hand, just part of my desire to be prepared for the unexpected. I do rotate feed, but I've never had any problems with feed being "old". As long as it's dry, it should be good to go.

This is for dry feed only. Any livestock feed with molasses or something similar added needs to be used by the date on the bag as it can mold, etc due to the moisture and sugar content.

 

[lazy gardener]

I believe that only when a grain is cracked, does it start to loose nutritional value. For the most part, even grains that have been stored a number of years, (as long as they are kept cool and dry) will sprout. IMO, if it will sprout, it should have decent nutritional quality. But the problem comes when grain is milled, then sits around for weeks and months before it is consumed. Donrae: What form of feed do you use?

 

[donrae]

I use all-in-one crumbles, from my local Grange Co-op. The mill is 30 miles away. I've honestly never once looked at dates on my chicken feed, it's never once occurred to me. It's never moldy, etc. I guess it could lose some nutritional value, but my birds thrive on it so I'm thinking it's all good.

 

[clevetromba]

This is in no way research based, just my own little brain working...

chicken feed is made of grains--mostly corn, wheat and soy. Those grains are each harvested once per year to my knowledge--I know wheat has different seasons depending on the type, and I'm not sure what kind is used in chicken feed. Anyway, those grains are stored in some manner from time of harvest until they're fed to the animal. If you buy feed in Feb, you're still buying last summer's harvest, cause no one cuts corn in Feb in the US. So to my way of thinking, why does it matter if those grains are stored at the mill, or in my barn?

I never thought about it that way, it does make sense...

 

[clevetromba]

I believe that only when a grain is cracked, does it start to loose nutritional value. For the most part, even grains that have been stored a number of years, (as long as they are kept cool and dry) will sprout. IMO, if it will sprout, it should have decent nutritional quality. But the problem comes when grain is milled, then sits around for weeks and months before it is consumed. Donrae: What form of feed do you use?

Yes, I think perhaps the grain oxidizes when milled and does degrade faster than when it is whole

 

[GardenFae]

Ok, so crumbles and other milled feeds should be purchased in smaller quantities to ensure freshness and best nutritional quality, while whole grains (scratch?) can be purchased and held in bulk?

I think I can handle that!

Now that it's finally getting a tiny bit warmer outside (she says, as Monday's forecast dips back to 28*...) I'm looking forward to getting my coop up and ready! The ladies arrive to my friend's house on March 12 or 13, and I'm so frustrated that my building progress has been so slow!