Chicken feed should be stored in cool, dry environments to avoid spoilage and prevent pests from invading it. A ventilated garage or shed are good examples. Insulated bins will further help regulate temperature fluctuations and moisture. Be sure to regularly monitor containers with older feed and rotate stock so it gets used first.
Contents
Plastic Bins
Food-grade plastic bins with tight-sealing lids are the ideal containers for storing chicken feed. Not only are they affordable and sturdy, but moisture and pest-proof. Choose a container size appropriate to the needs of your flock in order to avoid overfilling and frequent refilling of supplies.
Find easy-access bins that enable you to pour and scoop feed into chicken feeders quickly and effortlessly. Make sure the container includes information regarding its type, expiration date and other pertinent data so you can maintain accurate records while also quickly identifying older feed.
Store your feed in a dry, cool location away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. Moisture encourages mold growth that spoils feed while excess heat hastens nutrient degradation. Consider using moisture-absorbing packets or commercial desiccant to control humidity in storage containers; choose an area which is rodent and insect proof as this will ensure access to your supply is never lost!
Metal Trash Cans
Many chicken keepers find large metal trash cans with lids to be an effective and cost-efficient way of storing their feed. Not only are these containers easily purchased at relatively reasonable costs, they’re sturdy enough to withstand rodent chewing as well as moisture spoilage that could result in rancid feed, potentially harboring harmful toxins that hinder growth in chickens and taste unpleasant, often disincentivising chickens from consuming this type of feed altogether.
Metal containers used for feeding poultry feed may react with its fats, proteins and vitamins over time and degrade their nutritional value over time. To avoid this reaction from happening again in future storage sessions, ensure any metal container used has a non-reactive liner installed and ensure proper drainage to prevent water accumulation; additionally, raise or palletise them if possible so ground contact doesn’t occur as easily. As regularly as possible check for signs of mold growth, foul smell or discoloration to detect and discard spoiling food items before consuming it.
Steel Locking Jars
Utilising the correct container is critical to long-term poultry feed storage. Moisture can quickly break down pelleted feed into mush, encouraging fungus growth that produces mycotoxins toxic to your flock – so avoiding excess moisture is imperative in prolonging feed shelf life.
Your feed container of choice must have an airtight seal to keep out air, pests, and contaminants that could compromise its quality over time. Choose food-grade containers made of materials like stainless steel or galvanized metal for maximum longevity and food-grade materials to minimize maintenance needs.
Steel cans such as drums and galvanized trashcans make good choices for storing chicken feed. Steel is more sturdy than plastic and won’t attract rodent chewing; plus metal’s eco-friendliness won’t react negatively with your feed either! Alternatively, opt for food-grade steel barrels from Behrens with porcelain or food-grade lining inside to maximize storage efficiency.
Mylar Bags
Maintaining dry chicken feed is critical in protecting against contamination, spoilage, and insects. Moisture encourages mold growth that taints its quality for consumption by birds. Furthermore, moist feed fosters fungus growth that leads to mite infestation – both potentially harmful effects that may threaten bird welfare.
Food-grade plastic bins or metal trash cans with airtight seals provide the optimal storage solution, and should be large enough to hold an entire bag of feed while being well ventilated.
If you have a larger flock of chickens, purchasing bulk feed may make sense to reduce the frequency and amount of trips needed to the feed store. But in order to preserve its freshness and avoid wasteful mismanagement of excess material, storage space must be regularly checked for signs of water build-up or pest activity so as to be proactive about any issues as quickly as possible and keep their animals fed fresh!
