Feed molding in galvanized trash cans

[theacw]

I noticed today the feed had a smell and I dumped it in a trash bag to be safe and it was very moist/moldy on the bottom. I read around on here to see what you guys use as a container and it seems like everyone else uses the galvanized trash cans as well. Any advice?

I would like to continue to use them so I dont have to spend more money. They have been stored just outside the coop so completely outdoors. If I keep them in a building and line it with a trash bag, would that do the trick? I dont know if a trashbag would make it better or worse...

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Rodents will chew through plastic containers.
I use galvanized and set them on a couple of boards so air can circulate underneath.
Several of mine are over 10 years old and still in good condition

 

[Michael Apple]

If galvanized cans are placed in an area where the sun beats down on them, it increases moisture in the can, creating an environment for mold/bacteria. Best to store cans inside a barn or garage on pallets. I prefer placing feed in cans while still in the bag. The cans stay cleaner for longer periods of time. I don't like to purchase more feed than I can use in a month, and buy feed from suppliers that have a rapid turn around.

 

[nguyenkinhphuc2]

I store feed in galvanized trash cans, and keep them off the ground ( using 2x4's on top of bricks) to prevent molding. Besides, I use some plastic sheets around handles to prevent water from getting inside trash cans.

 

[lalaland]

i've used galvinized cans for years - and everyone is right, it is important to keep them off the ground (concrete block or wood) , to cover the lid - sometimes they can leak by the lid handle - I just keep a tin bucket upended on them, and to be careful opening the lid after a rain so you don't accidentally drip water inside.

since your moldy food was on the bottom, I would guess it is a bottom leak, which would be solved by keeping the cans off the ground.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I use a waterproof, airtight, food vault designed to store dog food. Once you figure out how to open and shut the blasted things, they're great. Haven't had a problem since going to them. We got ours at Southern States Feed Store but most pet places carry them. A 40 lb. bag of feed fills the large one to the top.

 

[Folly's place]

We use metal garbage cans, up on bricks, with the feed still in the bags from the manufacturer. There's an empty feed bag on the bottom of each can, again, so the feed stays dry. Our coop is big enough to have the cans inside, so they aren't rained on, and stay dry. Also, a feed bag is cut to be over each lid, and replaced when it gets nasty, with the chickens sometimes sitting on top of the can.
We want to use feed within two months of it's mill date, so we don't buy more than tree bags of feed at a time for our flock.
Mary

 

[boskelli1571]

Hi there,
Personally, I use a large plastic tote box. It is not completely air tight but seems to work better than galvanized for me. I had the same problem as you have. Plastic is not ideal for huge quantities of feed, but a 50lb. bag keeps nicely for several weeks. Sue

 

[AK Baha]

Hi there,
Personally, I use a large plastic tote box. It is not completely air tight but seems to work better than galvanized for me. I had the same problem as you have. Plastic is not ideal for huge quantities of feed, but a 50lb. bag keeps nicely for several weeks. Sue

This is what I use also. Works great for me.

 

[Kelsie2290]

We store our food inside. We usually keep the closed bags on plastic pallets, the open ones in plastic garbage cans, but keeping the food in the bag, we don't dump it in. We also found that the metal cans seem to sweat too much when it is humid out and the temperature changes much, even if they are inside.