Storing feed // how long will it last?

[ChickensAreSweet]

A.T. Hagan :

Once the weather breaks I have no problems keeping ground feed for four or five months here in Florida. But when the warm season starts I try to have anything that has been ground used up inside of about a month to a month and a half. Whole grains can last longer. I store my feed in metal trash cans up on bricks so that they don't touch the floor in a well ventilated area.

Oh, you already told them about the whole grains. Yay!!​

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I would NOT do 6 months with regular layer pellets or mash or crumbles. Really! That stuff will probably go rancid on you.

If you really want to store food that long, you might want to look into mixing your own feed with whole grains. But it is more expensive that way for some people. It depends on a lot of things.

 

[Toomuchpoopinthecoop]

Chickensaresweet,

I will look into the mixing whole grains as a future alternative. thanks for the tip. I'm in SW Washington state. I see you are in the rain country too.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
Yes! And I have seven SEVEN metal garbage cans in my garage. On pallets!!

One for this grain, one for that grain (some of my things are cracked and rolled, like oats and corn), one for this seed, one for that seed!

I LOVE mixing my feed - I mix about 5 days' worth at a time.

 

[Toomuchpoopinthecoop]

ChickensAre Sweet,

I looked at your page. That's quite the recipe you've got. Must have some happy chickens.

 

[Wifezilla]

abhaya, thanks for making the call.

I bet a lot depends on climate and humidity. Since I am in Colorado, humidity is usually not an issue but you still get that occasional bag where something molds. I am sure that is from the feed mill though.

I can see wanting to stock up. I have been contemplating the same thing. I don't see the economy improving any time soon, so I might stock up for lean times. A handy storage container for feed is an old red coleman cooler. A 50# bag fits in one perfectly.