Chicken feed doesn’t usually come in a small bag that can just be tucked away in a glass jar for storage. Most feed sold in farm supply stores comes as a 50 pound bag. So how should you store it?
There are several important things to keep in mind when storing chicken feed:
- Will it keep the feed dry?
- Will it keep pests out?
- Will this be conveniently located & easy to refill?
It’s important to have an airtight container for storage made of either metal or heavy duty plastic. If you can keep the container somewhere that is protected from the elements, that will also help reduce exposure to moisture that could lead to decay and mold.
My personal favorite storage container is a large metal trashcan with a tight fitting lid. Metal keeps pests such as mice, rats, and raccoons from being able to chew through and get to the feed. Even sturdy plastic containers will eventually give way to a particularly determined pest.
I prefer to store my feed inside of our barn that is right next to the chicken coop so that it’s not very far to walk when I need to refill it, but it’s also close enough to our garage for me to unload the feed & move it to the barn for storage. My metal trashcan is reasonably easy to refill, with one caveat – when it’s empty, it does require a bit of prying to get the lid off since it fits so tightly. If you do need to store your feed outdoors, try to keep it under shelter of some sort to keep the majority of the rain from hitting it, and also up on blocks elevating it off of direct contact with the ground to allow for airflow.
It’s important to note the reasoning behind these requirements, particularly the first two. If the feed were to get wet or even be exposed to high humidity, you run the risk of it growing mold. If chickens eat moldy food, it can cause various health issues such as sour crop and diarrhea. The requirement to keep pests out is not just to save you from losing the feed due to them eating it, but even more importantly is that the feed would get contaminated with their urine and feces which could transmit disease to your chickens and any handlers.
There are all sorts of creative ways to store feed, find out what works best for you! Happy chicken tending!