what do you keep your feed in???

[NEChickenNoob]

I had squirrels chew all the way through those heavy plastic deck boxes to get at bird seed years ago, so we store our feed in the basement, some just in the bags it comes in, some in metal trash cans. It'll all be in cans once I remember to buy some more.

Squirrels are the worst of chewers and gnawers. My grandfather had a huge porcelain container with a 2" thick pine top used as a porch table and a bird seed container. They chewed through all 2" of wood in about 3 months to get at the seeds. We replaced the top and I began a vigorous campaign against the evil little buggers. Flying squirrels are just as bad. One caution Bethel3330, mice and rats will chew through those bags and have a field day. In the basement, it's like holding up a sign saying "Gourmet meals just for my friends the rodents!" I have been there and done that. If it becomes a food source for them, they will move in and become neighbors searching for more take-out to sample. Just a friendly word of caution.

 

[Bethel3330]

I appreciate that. We are trying to be careful. I have three mousers that live in the house and a black snake in the garden shed that seems to be keeping the population down. We haven't had a mouse inside since last summer, and those turds got in because we'd done some foundation work and my husband didn't plug all the holes right away and they got in the basement rafters :-/ what a nightmare that was.
But after the squirrels then finding a rat in the metal can I tried outside, I didn't know what to do next. Lol

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Yes I wouldn't dare store chicken feed in the house also because of moths. If you get some pantry moths growing in your birdseed or feed inside the house they can go all over.

This happened to a family member of mine (but the moths came in a box of cereal they bought) and it was awful.

They do have sticky traps for them though in case someone needs to know that.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I appreciate that. We are trying to be careful. I have three mousers that live in the house and a black snake in the garden shed that seems to be keeping the population down. We haven't had a mouse inside since last summer, and those turds got in because we'd done some foundation work and my husband didn't plug all the holes right away and they got in the basement rafters :-/ what a nightmare that was.
But after the squirrels then finding a rat in the metal can I tried outside, I didn't know what to do next. Lol

You are lucky to have mousers!

 

[Bethel3330]

I do not have lazy cats, that's for sure!

 

[Michael OShay]

In most cases I have kept my feed storing drums in the coops themselves since chickens cannot get into the drums.

 

[SuperK]

This is what I store our feed in. It was a water pressure tank that I removed the vinyl bladder, cur off the top, sanded the rust inside and out, painted then varnished both inside and the outside. I then cut a viewing panel out of the front, made an acrylic window to fit, secured it and used a pro grade sealant to keep out the 200 or so inches of rain we get out this way.
this photo has the bin resting on its top (its upside down) and you can see the bin lid in the background on the right.
Second photo is the bin in place.