Storing Chicken feed

Fire-Man · #1 01/21/14, 02:43 PM

Any of you buy your bagged chicken feed by the pallet----40 bags at the time? I found a place that sells 16%, same percentage I buy from Tractor Supply. Its about 30 minutes farther away than Tractor Supply. If I go there and get a 40 bag pallet, it will save me $128 compared to what I am paying at TS. $100 cheaper than if I bought a Pallet at TS. Plus buying it by the Pallet would Save Me ALOT more in time, fuel for all those trips I been making to get my feed. It would take me about 10 weeks to use it. How would I need to store it, so the 40th bag is about as fresh as the first? Thanks!

Bret · #2 01/21/14, 02:53 PM

I have found that mold becomes a problem if I get too far ahead on cow feed or chicken feed. Now my chickens get the cow feed and when they have eaten the corn out of the pellets, I add the pellets back to the calves.

I always outfox myself. Do you have a spot to store it that is high and dry--not humid? Things that I did not have on a pallet or off the ground molded faster in the area that contacted the concrete barn floor and in four to five weeks. Best wishes.

springvalley · #3 01/21/14, 02:57 PM

On a pallet in garbage cans should work. I would also check with TS and ask if they could give you a better deal on the pallet worth. A lot of places wil try and match the other stores price if they can.

Wendy · #4 01/21/14, 03:37 PM

I have barrels to store mine in.

jwal10 · #5 01/21/14, 03:39 PM

Can you buy a pallet, paid in full but pickup as needed, maybe 1/4 at a time. We did this at a feed store I worked at. Otherwise it needs to be dry and cool, not cold or hot, summer and winter....James

jwal10 · #6 01/21/14, 03:40 PM

Can you buy a pallet, paid in full but pickup as needed, maybe 1/4 at a time. We did this at a feed store I worked at. Otherwise it needs to be dry and cool, not cold or hot, summer and winter....James

jwal10 · #7 01/21/14, 03:41 PM

Can you buy a pallet, paid in full but pickup as needed, maybe 1/4 at a time. We did this at a feed store I worked at. Otherwise it needs to be dry and cool, not cold or hot, summer and winter. Part of the reason I don't feed crumbles, pellets will keep longer....James

jwal10 · #8 01/21/14, 03:42 PM

Can you buy a pallet, paid in full but pickup as needed, maybe 1/4 at a time. We did this at a feed store I worked at. Otherwise it needs to be dry and cool, not cold or hot, summer and winter. Part of the reason I don't feed crumbles, pellets will keep longer....James

gwithrow · #9 01/21/14, 03:46 PM

if you are getting feed from Williams in Campobello, I have found that the feed is very fresh and will keep as long as it is kept dry and hopefully not too hot...let's just say the hot part won't be a problem for while yet....I buy a full pallet all the time from them and just store it in a dry building...

Fire-Man · #10 01/21/14, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springvalley

On a pallet in garbage cans should work. I would also check with TS and ask if they could give you a better deal on the pallet worth. A lot of places wil try and match the other stores price if they can.

I had that in my Above Post. TS will give you 5% off for a pallet.

Ozarks Tom · #11 01/21/14, 04:25 PM

We use metal garbage cans, the large ones hold 3 bags each. Make sure you use a plastic liner/bag, or condensation will mold it. If we had much bigger quantities we'd probably look on CL for 55 gallon drums, and line them. Never had any go bad that we've stored like this.

Fire-Man · #12 01/21/14, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwal10

Can you buy a pallet, paid in full but pickup as needed, maybe 1/4 at a time. We did this at a feed store I worked at. Otherwise it needs to be dry and cool, not cold or hot, summer and winter....James

James, I had the same problem a few minutes ago------ended up with 4 or 5 post. I deleted the body.

Here is what the Owner told me-----If he can pick up a Pallet and set it in the back of my truck-----he will let me have it at this price. I took that at---if I want it done any other way-----will not be that price. He does not have a big enough place to store "extra" feed.

I have some shipping containers that I keep some shop equipment in one of them and it does not rust(low moisture), I also open them on hot days so they do not get to hot and allow some fresh air circulation. I can set the whole pallet in the container with my tractor, I can set it on a dolly and roll it away from the doors. I think it will be ok.

I can only get $2 per dozen for my eggs(to much competition--one man is selling his for $1.25). If I can save $100, thats like 50 dozen free eggs.
I was going to see if this place would throw 10 bags each of rabbit/hog feed on top of that 40 bags of chicken feed---for the same discount!

anniew · #13 01/21/14, 04:47 PM

I keep mine in 55 gallon barrels, no liner, about 6-7 bags per barrel. It works fine for me for winter, so that I don't have to haul feed with snow on the ground. I usually get enough for 6 months in the fall.

jwal10 · #14 01/21/14, 04:58 PM

You can try that, another thing is to unstack the pallet so air can move around the bags. Sometimes the moisture is in the feed and being packed tight can cause mold, kind of like hay that has a little too much moisture. Try it and see, trying different ways. At the feed store I worked at we just kept enough in stock for both, the single bag and the "bulk" orders. Feed was delivered each week....James

Fire-Man · #15 01/21/14, 04:59 PM

I am going to get set-up and try it. This would save me about $500 per year on chicken feed alone besides the gas and time. I will see if I can work something out with him on rabbit and hog feed---smaller scale.

I am wondering if the feed will fair better in its original bag---than in barrels----better air circulation. I do not have a rat problem(yet) these containers are real tight.

Edited---We posted about the same time James----but That is a good idea.

COWS · #16 01/21/14, 05:52 PM

I'm in upstate SC. At his time of year, scratch feed will not mold in the time you mention. IMO it's less likely to mold that cow feed and I have store it in a garbage can for at least that long(sold cows, was some time before bought more) The main problem is to keep rats away and it sound like the shipping container will solve that. I don't think it will mold in hot weather either. Dampness is the next big enemy after rats and it sounds like you are used to controlling that. I would store the feed in the original bags. AFIK the bags are plain paper, no plastic liners, and as such they will have some air circulation. Suggest you save bags to put down in garden between rows for weed control. Rain will soak right through them.

COWS

2diamond · #17 01/21/14, 06:01 PM

What about an old chest freezer?

Bret F · #18 01/21/14, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendy

I have barrels to store mine in.

I also store mine in barrels. I don't buy "Chicken feed". I buy whole grains from a farm and pour it in the barrels at home. No mold or mouse problems.

Brighton · #19 01/21/14, 06:17 PM

When the village bought new trash pick up bins, the kind with two wheels, my cousin and I bought 4 of them for $5 each. We have one with loose feed to scoop from and three that we put the bagged food in, so far no mice, rats or anything has gotten to them.

greenstar · #20 01/21/14, 06:42 PM

Williams feed is good stuff. I have kept feed from there in 55 gal drums for 12 weeks with no trouble. I wouldnt want to hold it much longer though. A tight seal and filled to the top seems to help