Where do you store your feed?

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you for all the suggestions! Very helpful. I went to Home Depot to price some metal garbage cans, and to see if they had any small ones, but I actually stumbled on this: its called a "Gamma Lid" and it snaps on to one of those large 5 gallon buckets (i think its 5 gal?) and then it has a top that can screw on/ off. I looks like it seals pretty good, but I'll see when I try it out. If it works, I'll be satisfied, as we have a couple of those large buckets that are empty.

Here's a picture I found off google, in case anyone is interested - aparently they come in different colors, but HD only had it in black.

Neat idea.

 

[Going Bhonkers]

I like the looks of those for things like our goat mineral, DE, ect since it is something not used up as quickly. Keep us posted how they work out.

Will do!

 

[Tivona]

I keep mine in two metal garbage cans under cover to protect from rain. I like that rodents can't get into them. We tried plastic cans in the past but had chipmunks chew their way in. Cute to watch them popping their heads in and out of the can as they ate a bit then checked on the outside world but definitely not so good on the feed bill. Out in the country we also have to worry about things like field mice, voles, and rats. Keeping the feed in a metal can stops any from finding the food to start with. No rodent infestations can get going without food so the metal cans really help.

As far as bugs I have not had much issue but I do have Food grade DE (Diatomaceous Earth) which I used in the one bag that did have some bugs. It killed the bugs and left the feed safe for the birds. If you do decide to use DE I suggest you read up on it. There are a couple different things to keep in mind with it. First it MUST be food grade, other types are treated and are not safe for the birds to eat. Second it is damaging to lungs so wear a dust mask when using it and don't fluff it in the air and hang around to breathe it. Those are the two big ones that come to mind on using the DE. Bugs also don't seem to get into the metal cans but the lids are usually not tight enough to keep them out if they wanted to get in.

 

[wildpeas]

Since we dont have a barn my husband kindly let me have half the garage for my 'feed room'. He built me a long platform with three sides that holds the hay for the horses and the feed cans. I am using tall clear plastic rolly bins with hinged lids. They are made for birdseed and dog food and one will hold 50 pounds of duck food. I have four of them that I labeled for my husband so he doesn't give anyone the wrong stuff if he feeds, Omolene 100 for the gelding, Mini Horse and Pony for the pony, Layena, and Flockraiser.

Interestingly the horse grains, which are also 50 pounds, will not all fit in a bin and I have to feed out of the bag for a few days. I like it that I can tell at a glance how much feed I have left and that the bins are on wheels. I roll them around a bit to check for mice and so far no problems. Of course when it starts to get cold we will put down glue traps as a precaution.

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Okay, well it has been about a week or so since I tried out storing the feed in a 5 gal bucket & using the gamma seal lid. I put hot glue around the edges of the lid as an extra measure, and then put the feed in plastic baggies and put those inside the bucket. I've kept the 5 gal bucket in my garage.
I opened it yesterday to refill a container that I have by their coop and heard a soft noise, kind of what you hear when you open a can of something with an air tight lid.
Its dry inside the bucket, no bugs visually. so far, I give it thumbs up

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay, well it has been about a week or so since I tried out storing the feed in a 5 gal bucket & using the gamma seal lid. I put hot glue around the edges of the lid as an extra measure, and then put the feed in plastic baggies and put those inside the bucket. I've kept the 5 gal bucket in my garage.
I opened it yesterday to refill a container that I have by their coop and heard a soft noise, kind of what you hear when you open a can of something with an air tight lid.
Its dry inside the bucket, no bugs visually. so far, I give it thumbs up

I'll give it another