Where to store extra feed?

[ashleynlay]

I have been wanting chickens for years, and am just now getting ready to finally take the plunge. I want a large coop with a separate area for storing extra feed and stuff, but that isn’t in our budget right now. The smaller coops that do not have an area separate from where the chickens actually live—how and where do you store all your extra feed in these situations?
My big thing is pests- snakes and mice mostly- I want to avoid. So I planned to only set out food one day at a time, but if I don’t have anywhere to store extra feed, that will be a hassle, no? My garage will be a ways away from my coop. Pic of the approximate size and type of coop we can build right now. Suggestions welcome. I want around 8 birds.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Many feed stores sell large sealable garbage can- style storage containers.

 

[coach723]

That is what I use, the garbage can type containers. They come in plastic or metal, metal is less chewable, but it also tends to collect condensation more. I have mine in a barn adjacent to the chicken run, but when I feed in the morning I just carry a bucket with that days feed amount with me to the coop. The only caveat I would say is to put them where they don't get heated by the sun, condensation (or any other moisture) inside will cause the feed to go bad. I generally buy 2 to 3 weeks feed at a time, I don't do more than that for the same reason, don't want it to go bad. I have high heat and humidity in the summer, so it's an issue for me. Depending on your climate you may be able to keep more on hand. The other really good reason for using bins is that you empty the bag into it before using the feed. I cannot count the number of times I've poured a bag in to find that it was starting to go bad on the bottom. Much better to find that out BEFORE you have fed any to your birds. Some stores are not real careful about how they store pallets of feed before they hit the shelves, so you have to be careful that you don't get one that has sat in the rain possibly.

 

[jreardon1918]

I store a 50 pound bag of feed in two 5 gallon buckets. I write the date i get the bag on the bucket. Site this in the basement. I use one gallon pitchers to transport the feed and water to the coop. Works well. I do this as needed.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I buy a bag at a time and put it in a big metal garbage can with a metal lid. I place the whole opened bag in it. Its in my garage.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I use 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids. It takes 2 buckets to hold 50# of feed.
I use my feed scoop to take scratch out and a 3 gallon bucket (obtained from the bakery) to make their wet feed in. It is bigger than needed but works well. If I wanted to just take a days worth of dry feed out I could do that in my feed scoops.
I keep my feed inside my house in my sewing room.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
First, always check the mill date on each bag of feed you buy! Somewhere on the bag will be a date, which is when the feed was made at the mill. Buy something that's not more than one month old, and use it up within another month. Some of the vitamins in the mix degrade over time, and it matters.
Then, store it in it's original bag in a metal garbage can, or some other metal container that can be closed and rodent proof, and not out in the rain or directly on the ground.
Mine is on a pad in my coop, which is large enough to manage it. You may need to have it elsewhere, and take a pail of feed to your coop as needed. That's fine too, just less convenient.
If you get a bag bag of feed, it will be in it's original container and can be returned to the store! Checking their storage conditions and the mill date on each bag prevents a lot of problems...
That coop is cute, but there's not enough ventilation shown. How big is it? Can you walk into it, or is it too short?
How about a garden shed, and modify it?
Mary

 

[AllMightyPotato]

I keep a 10 gallon plastic sealable box for feed, bedding and grits. If you want to store feed in a box as well, make sure that:

- The box is weatherproof, in case of rain
- The box has extra room, which is not really required, but it is helpful
- The lid has clips, so that other animals, such as raccoons, can't make their way inside
- You may also want it to be opaque, so that the chickens won't try to break in. I once used an opaque box, and I had other birds, raccoons, squirrels, and my own hens trying to break the box open.

If you do choose to use a box, keep the box by the coop and use a scoop to feed the hens. I keep mine next to the deck, to make it harder to find. If there is a more convenient way to store feed, please let me know.