If chicken feed is not stored correctly you could potentially feed your chickens rotting feed which will sicken them and ruin your feed supply. I have never had any rodent, mold, or other feed issues because I use these simple steps to store my chicken feed.
Where to store bags of chicken feed
Your chicken feed is the most vulnerable to rodents while it is in the bag. Mice, voles, and other rodents can easily chew through new bag of feed and eat most of it.
Since we do not have a rodent problem I store my feed in our garage and storage shed while it is still in the feed bags. If you find that you do have mice in your garage or shed you will need to either store it in another place or use a rodent proof container.
To keep the mice out of your feed it is a good idea to use things like plastic containers, metal trash cans, or other materials that are too thick and hard for mice to chew through. Simply place the whole bag in the container and slap the lid on.
Keeping chicken feed fresh in the bag
When you store food in your pantry you keep it sealed at all times to prevent it from getting stale. Same goes for chicken feed.
If you have an opened bag of chicken feed keep it closed with clothes pins or roll the bag up tightly to maintain peak freshness and prolong its shelf life.
Chicken feed storage best practices
When it comes to storing chicken feed there are three things you need to watch for moisture, temperature, and sunlight.
You should also look for feed containers with tight-fitting lids as these are the best option for proper feed storage. Temperature fluctuations (especially in the summer months) can also cause rancid feed if you don't pay attention to them.
Make sure to follow these tips so you don't have any health problems with your chickens.
What temperature to store feed at
When you store feed in the chicken coop you cannot control the temperature, and this is okay because you will be using it soon and it will not have enough time to spoil.
While the feed is in the bag you should keep it under 70oF for best quality. If you find that your garage is too warm you could store the feed in your basement.
If is too warm and you do not have a cooler place to store the feed that is okay. Use the feed within 60 days of buying it and you should be fine. Remember to always use the oldest feed first.
Watch out for moisture
While you should not store your chicken feed in hot conditions the thing you should really look out for is humidity. Chicken feed, whether crumble, pellet, or whole grains, should not be exposed to much humidity.
If you live in a very humid climate I recommend you either store your feed indoors or in sealable containers to keep out moisture. Moisture will lead to moldy feed and lower the feed's quality, so make sure to keep feed away from moisture.
Keep Your feed out of direct sunlight
If your new feed is exposed to direct sunlight it can affect the feed's nutritional value and quality of the feed. If your feed is still in its original bags you should still keep it out of direct sunlight.
Once you transfer your feed to a plastic tote or other storage bins that are not see-through then you don't have to worry about sunlight.
Storing chicken feed in the coop
Since both the shed and garage are far away from my chicken coop I keep some of my chicken feed in the coop for easy access. I store my feed in a food grade 5 gallon bucket with a tight-fitting lid.
This has kept out all insects, rodents, and moisture from my chicken feed. I also like that the bucket is white in color because this keeps the feed cooler by not absorbing heat from the sun. This bucket can hold almost 40 pounds of feed.
It is also very convenient to have feed in the chicken run. I just feed my chickens from the bucket every day then I will fill the bucket with feed when I empty it (that's about every three-four weeks for me).
If you want to use this same method for storing chicken feed there is a good chance that you can find these buckets for FREE. Go to a local grocery store, bakery, or bulk food store and they will either give you the used food grade buckets for free or at a very low cost.
If you cannot find buckets anywhere, you can buy them here.
I have seen other chicken owners use plastic or metal garbage cans for chicken feed storage in the coop. There are quite a few problems with using these.
First the lid may fly off allowing moisture and other contaminants to get into the feed. These lids do not seal which will not keep moisture out. Plus the plastic is not food grade, and it is thin which will not keep the mice out.
Having the right containers is the most important part of storing chicken feed. I believe storing your chicken feed in these buckets is the best way to store chicken feed and keep it fresh!
Are metal or plastic containers better
Metal containers and metal bins can be used for storing chicken feed. These metallic containers may react with the chicken feed so you may not want your feed in the bare metal bin.
If you are worried about the feed reacting with the metallic containers just keep the feed in the original bag so it cannot touch the metal!
A plastic container can also work for storing your chicken feed and you don't have to worry about any reactions with the feed. It is best to buy food grade buckets for your chicken feed.
When it comes down to it I don't see metal containers or plastic containers being better than one another. It comes down to personal preference.
How long will my feed last
When you store chicken feed in a cool dry place it could last for up to 4 months. If it is in summer and the weather is hot you will want to use this up faster (2 months).
That is why (for more reasons than one) I keep more chicken feed on hand in the winter than the summer.
How to tell if your feed has gone bad
If you notice any of the following things happen to your chicken feed then it has gone bad and should not be fed to your chickens.
Rancid smell
Fresh feed should not have a foul odor. Even though fermenting chicken feed is good, this type of fermenting is not controlled and can sicken your chickens. If you notice that your chicken feed stinks, then you should not feed it to your chickens, it has probably rotted.
Mold
If your chicken feed gets wet it is going to mold. If you ever notice chicken feed getting moldy throw it away. Moldy feed can make chickens sick.
Moisture in the bag/container
If there is no mold in the feed bag but you can see moisture in it then you should not feed it to your chickens especially if you do not know how long it has been sitting there.
Usually you should be able to tell if your chicken feed has gone bad. Always follow the rule: If in doubt, throw it out. Because feeding expired feed to chickens can sicken them and make them stop laying eggs.
Things to remember about storing chicken feed
Always remember to keep chicken feed in a cool, dark, and dry environment and it should last a long while. Remember - if in doubt, throw it out!
Pin This!
Leave a Reply