Purina’s new mill date code uses Julian calendar

[U_Stormcrow]

@SueT Thanks for posting this! I was literally just at the feed store looking at mill dates and prices, and was confused by Purina's date. A lot of old posts here at Backyard Chickens still discussed the single-digit year code they used to use, and those were all I found on my phone in the store. I ended up buying a different brand, just because they used a normal date scheme. But now that I know the Purina date code, I can keep them in mind for future purchases.

Somewhat related (but perhaps should be a new thread?), how often can you change brands of feed? Can you go with whatever is freshest / latest mill date at the feed store, as long as you gradually transition from one bag to the next? Or is it better to stay with a single brand, even if the food is older?

Also, how old is old? Is there a certain time span between mill date and finishing the bag that you should aim for?

Thanks!
Elizabeth

A healthy chicken won't starve if offered palatable feed. You aren't wedded to any particular brand - I've fed Purina, Nutrena, a different Nutrena, Tucker Milling's 18% non-GMO, Harrel Milling's 16% Lay, 18%, and 24% Game Bird. My birds have never refused to eat.

Most of us try and find bags which our birds will consume within three months of mill date - its a VERY arbitrary figure. Pellet lasts slightly longer (less surface area to mass, slows the effects of oxygen and moisture in spoiling the nutritional value of the feed), and whole grain lasts longer still (same reason plus the outer coating on most seeds/grains exists to protect against that) - but how much longer doesn't follow a hard/fast rule.

If your birds eat 50# a month, try not to buy feed more than two months old, and try to buy replacements near the end of the current bag. If your four birds take two months to finish the bag, you have a cost decision to make - is it worth it to buy smaller quantity, higher $/lb bags to ensure fresh feed, or does 4 or 5 month old feed work for you... Not a decision I can make for you _ ican't even offer an equation, because the speed of degradation isn't known, and there is no telling how old the contents were *before* the mill ground them into feed.

 

[K0k0shka]

Somewhat related (but perhaps should be a new thread?), how often can you change brands of feed? Can you go with whatever is freshest / latest mill date at the feed store, as long as you gradually transition from one bag to the next? Or is it better to stay with a single brand, even if the food is older?

This question comes up often, and I always wonder why people are so afraid of switching brands. The chickens don't care nearly as much about this as their people do. Most major brands' formulas are very similar and use similar ingredients, and if it's a complete diet, then it achieves the same purpose, so the brand doesn't matter as far as the chicken is concerned. May matter to the human, if they are looking at cost, organic vs. not, and such, and the chickens will care if there's a change in texture - pellets vs. crumble, for example. But other than that... feed is feed. Totally fine to switch brands. Up to you whether to transition gradually or not. If it's the same basic ingredients and texture, the chickens likely won't even notice. I've switched brands without a gradual transitioning - from one straight to the other - both with chicks and with adult hens, and they've never noticed.

 

[Molpet]

This question comes up often, and I always wonder why people are so afraid of switching brands.

Dogs and cats sometimes get sick from switching food so people equate that to chickens

 

[K0k0shka]

Dogs and cats sometimes get sick from switching food so people equate that to chickens

I figured pets might be muddying things up, but... dogs and cats are so different from chickens. And their food has a much wider variety of contents, flavors, additives, etc.

 

[SueT]

@SueT Thanks for posting this! I was literally just at the feed store looking at mill dates and prices, and was confused by Purina's date. A lot of old posts here at Backyard Chickens still discussed the single-digit year code they used to use, and those were all I found on my phone in the store. I ended up buying a different brand, just because they used a normal date scheme. But now that I know the Purina date code, I can keep them in mind for future purchases.

Somewhat related (but perhaps should be a new thread?), how often can you change brands of feed? Can you go with whatever is freshest / latest mill date at the feed store, as long as you gradually transition from one bag to the next? Or is it better to stay with a single brand, even if the food is older?

Also, how old is old? Is there a certain time span between mill date and finishing the bag that you should aim for?

Thanks!
Elizabeth

Well if your chickens like the different brand(s), then no worries.
As for age of feed, I am pleased if I can get it less than 3 months old, and when that is not what is out on the floor, I ask them to check in the back for fresher. But with supply chain issues, etc, we may not always be so lucky to find whatever we want available. Just do the best you can. Chickens are more adaptable than we give them credit for.

 

[SpicyDisaster]

I'm so glad you posted this! I picked up a few bags of Purina Flock Raiser as the only non-layer option locally for the first time a few weeks ago. Took a look at the label and thought I must be crazy as I couldn't find a date like on the Nutrients I'm used to feeding. Now I'll have to check and see what the date is.

Also, on a road trip a week ago hubby picked up some Nutrena Chick Starter/Grower at a Tractor Supply for me. Upon checking dates when he got home realized they were getting June 2021! Absolutely crazy that TSC would have 8 month old feed. Thankfully we had to drive by a couple days later and were able to exchange for Jan 2022 dates but still, doesn't the feed ever get yanked?

 

[3KillerBs]

how often can you change brands of feed? Can you go with whatever is freshest / latest mill date at the feed store, as long as you gradually transition from one bag to the next?

Chickens are tough, adaptable animals -- omnivores and scavengers in the wild. It's a good idea to mix a little of the last feed with a little of the next feed in the feeder for a day or two, but it's not like the more delicate digestive system of cats, dogs, horses, or cattle.

The chickens don't care nearly as much about this as their people do.

Exactly!

They eat bugs, dead things, and styrofoam -- they're not naturally fussy.

the chickens will care if there's a change in texture - pellets vs. crumble, for example.

I've made a point of "training" mine to eat whatever I put in the feeder. If it's in the feeder they know it's feed and they eat it.

I never tolerated pickiness in my kids and I certainly won't tolerate it in my chickens.

 

[K0k0shka]

Exactly!

They eat bugs, dead things, and styrofoam -- they're not naturally fussy.

In other words, chickens are not cats (though cats can adapt just as well if there's nothing else to eat... They are very unlikely to starve to death in the presence of food, even if it isn't their favorite food).

I've made a point of "training" mine to eat whatever I put in the feeder. If it's in the feeder they know it's feed and they eat it.

I never tolerated pickiness in my kids and I certainly won't tolerate it in my chickens.

I so agree with this, especially when it comes to kids! With chickens, it's really down to just two options though - pellets or crumble, and if all else is equal and it's only a matter of texture, I'm willing to indulge them and get the one they prefer (crumble). I don't care either way. Pellets are more expensive by 2 bucks, but that's not enough to be a deal breaker because I only have 7 chickens and they don't eat all that much. It makes me wonder though, why pellets are more expensive, if crumble is pellets that's ground further... so crumble would require additional processing and additional manufacture cost... Shouldn't crumble be the more expensive feed?

 

[SpicyDisaster]

It makes me wonder though, why pellets are more expensive, if crumble is pellets that's ground further... so crumble would require additional processing and additional manufacture cost... Shouldn't crumble be the more expensive feed?

I wonder that as well! The only thing I came up with was that the pellets have more of a required format as to what is acceptable in the bag so maybe there is more rejects? Idk.

We use pellets in our feeder system as it's top-down fed. So crumble winds up with a bunch of dust at the bottom that we then have to empty the whole bucket out. So pellets are our preference and why I'd like to know why they are more expensive.

 

[3KillerBs]

In other words, chickens are not cats (though cats can adapt just as well if there's nothing else to eat... They are very unlikely to starve to death in the presence of food, even if it isn't their favorite food).


I so agree with this, especially when it comes to kids! With chickens, it's really down to just two options though - pellets or crumble, and if all else is equal and it's only a matter of texture, I'm willing to indulge them and get the one they prefer (crumble). I don't care either way. Pellets are more expensive by 2 bucks, but that's not enough to be a deal breaker because I only have 7 chickens and they don't eat all that much. It makes me wonder though, why pellets are more expensive, if crumble is pellets that's ground further... so crumble would require additional processing and additional manufacture cost... Shouldn't crumble be the more expensive feed?

They're the same price in the brand I use.

But I figure that all the broken/misshappen pellets end up in the crumble line.

Mine eat whatever I give them and I don't get much waste either way. Every week or so I dump the dust from all the feeders into a pan and make wet mash. They think they're getting a treat.