Storing Feed in Summer?

[Pony Trotsky]

Hello.

I have three pullets currently eating Blue Seal Grower, and can't seem to find this feed in anything smaller than 25 lb bags. The 25 lb bag lasts more than a month, and I'm wondering whether it will go rancid in very hot weather.

I've had high-fat/high protein horse feeds go bad in the heat, if left around too long - hence the question: should I store grower mash in the house where it's cooler, or is the horse barn, where the coop is, okay?

Thank you.

 

[teach1rusl]

I'm not familiar with that brand, but I keep my feed sealed up in huge plastic tub (a plastic garbage can w/good seal would work too). I've kept mine for as long as 6 weeks with no problems, and it's very humid here. I keep it in the detached garage. I wonder if a mesh bag of rice would help (I've always kept rice in my salt shakers)???

Of course your house would be "safest" place...since it's humidity controlled.

 

[Chris09]

Check your feed tag it should BHT, Ethoxyquin, Tocopherols, Citric Acid or Rosemary Extract in it.
If it has either of them you should be alright.

Chris

 

[Pony Trotsky]

Quote:
Thanks, Chris!

Here's what it's got:

Grain Products, Plant Protein Products, Processed
Grain By-Products, Calcium Carbonate, Monocalcium
Phosphate, Salt, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride,
L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Vitamin E Supplement,
Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate,
Zinc Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate,
Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Proteinate,
Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3
Supplement, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate,
Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine
Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Folic Acid, Vitamin
B12 Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite
Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Brewers
Dried Yeast, Yeast Culture, Dried Enterococcus
Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus
Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Yeast
Fermentation Solubles.

It doesn't appear to contain anything you mentioned, so I'll bring it inside.

I must say, though, that I think this list is a bit scary. It barely looks like food, really. Is there any reason a person couldn't just feed real food, with a vitamin supplement for insurance?

 

[NanaLantana]

I've got to throw away a 25 lb bag of feed - I took it out of the car and left it in the carport, partially covered. It rained that night, and in the morning I brought it inside. When I opened it a week later, It was all mouldy! I usually keep my feed in a trash bin inside my back door. So it's usually in the AC house. I guess I learned my lesson - never leave feed outside in S. Florida! Boo on me

 

[luvinmychickens]

We keep our in a big plastic tub in the garage. (Its an urban farm)