Feed storage question

DocM · #1 11/01/07, 08:45 PM

Got a killer deal on bagged feed today. Have it unloaded into a basement spare bedroom. If I leave the door closed, the temp will hover around 50, if I open it, 70, humidity is about 37%. 80 bags, mixed all breed livestock (dry), chicken crumbles, and alfalfa pellets. I'm hoping to keep it from molding, wondering what optimum humidity/temp should be for storage of 2-3 months. If it's going to go bad, I can sell some of it. At 50% off, I couldn't pass it up, and this is as much as I could load on my trailer.

bill not in oh · #2 11/01/07, 09:36 PM

50 degrees / 35-40% should be OK for a couple of months so long as it hasn't been stored in adverse conditions (and started to mold) already.

rambler · #3 11/02/07, 08:21 AM

As dry as possible, cooler is better.

--->Paul

DocM · #4 11/02/07, 08:32 AM

Thank you! I'm pretty sure it's fresh feed, it was a "grand opening" 4 hour special at a local big name feed store and the bags are all labels Sept. It's up off the floor on pallets and I'll try to keep the air circulating.

YuccaFlatsRanch · #5 11/02/07, 08:48 AM

I was going to suggest that you keep it up off of the floor on pallets. Air circulation is the trick. You may get some hatching of weevils in the grain if any is whole grain.

Silvercreek Farmer · #6 11/02/07, 10:02 AM

You might want to get some rodent poison and put in there as well.

coso · #7 11/02/07, 10:19 AM

If you had a dehumidifier to stick in the room it would help extend the life.

#8 11/02/07, 08:34 PM

For just several months the humidity is good, the temperature is great. Keep them off the floor and out of contact with exterior walls so you won't have uneven cooling. Good air flow is a must. Take rodent precautions.

.....Alan.

Beeman · #9 11/03/07, 10:56 AM

I don't see how you're going to keep bugs out of it. It definetly will be a rodent attractor if kept in bags. If you could sell it and make enough to cover your lbor of handling and a little profit I would sell it.

DocM · #10 11/03/07, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beeman

I don't see how you're going to keep bugs out of it. It definetly will be a rodent attractor if kept in bags. If you could sell it and make enough to cover your lbor of handling and a little profit I would sell it.

Well, it's actually inside my house, in a spare bedroom. We don't have an insect or rodent problem in here (unless you count teenagers) yet, but I did stick a bunch of sticky traps among the pallets, just in case. Maybe my big fat house cat will get a little hunting practice. I don't expect to have to store it longer than 2, 3 months at the longest, but if it works out, and I get another feed deal, I may keep storing it in there. It's more convenient than the tack room and I'm not worrying about the goat's breaking in.

Beeman · #11 11/03/07, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocM

Well, it's actually inside my house, in a spare bedroom. We don't have an insect or rodent problem in here (unless you count teenagers) yet, but I did stick a bunch of sticky traps among the pallets, just in case. Maybe my big fat house cat will get a little hunting practice. I don't expect to have to store it longer than 2, 3 months at the longest, but if it works out, and I get another feed deal, I may keep storing it in there. It's more convenient than the tack room and I'm not worrying about the goat's breaking in.

The bugs many times will hatch out of the feed. Go to a feed store and ask them about bugs in feed and how long they keep their stock. I have had sealed bags of feed with bugs in it.