bugs in feed

[Liesl]

 

Eeeeek! So I went to fill up our feeder yesterday and found our entire bin of organic feed loaded with little bugs (I'm no entemologist and the best I can describe them as was itty-bitty brown beetles). Bin is not airtight and is kept in our shed, but when we opened the next bag it too was filled with bugs. Of course, bugs could have eaten their way into the bag, but still frustrating. With the amount of bugs in there it's obvious they've been in there a while ... and this is the feed given to our girls regularly. Several questions...

1) I know the girls love their bugs, but hunting for bugs around the yard seems different than ingesting them or being exposed to them in food. Should I be concerned that they've been ingesting/exposed to these bugs in the food?

2) Related to #1 - should I get rid of the buggy food? My instinct is yes (sucks to "waste" the money). Any reason I shouldn't add the food to our compost?

3) Is this a common problem - getting bugs in food? (aka Is this a "Wow, you should've known better, what kind of chicken raiser are you?!?!?" situation)

4) Is it more likely that the bugs were an external addition to the food or would they have "hatched" from inside the food?

5) Any other recommendations?

6) And while I'm at it ... we're in the east valley (near downtown Mesa) anyone know sources for organic feed out this way? We had gotten these bags of feed from The Feed Barn and it's sooooooo far away (hence why we bought 3 bags at once).

 

Thanks!

[Suze Scott]

Any idea where in the East Valley the Magill Farms delivery points are?

[Becky]

You need to call Azure Standard and get a list of drop points and call them.
Drop points are usually at people's homes.
The feed is delivered by Azure Standard

[Suze Scott]

Last time I checked they only carry Az Feeds. I'd probably give them oatmeal, rice, cat food and other things from the grocery beore I'll feed my birds that brand.

Mesa Feed Barn carries Purina; Pet Food Club does as well.

[Becky]

Higley feed carries organic layer feed (OH Kruse.) They are occasionally out, though so you might want to call first.

[Rachel]

These are weevils, the same kind that may get into your rice or flour. The good news is that they aren't disease vectors so they will not harm your birds, but they are a sign that your feed isn't as fresh as it could/should be. They crop up when the temps are warm and go away in the winter, and they are worse the longer a bag has been sitting around. (Reproduction and all) I wouldn't buy more than a 30 day supply of feed at a time, or one bag if that lasts you longer than 30 days. Fresh food is important for other reasons too. Make sure you empty your feed bin completely before adding new food so you don't just give a resident population of weevils a bigger habitat. ;)

Higley is probably a little closer to you. Aden's Hay Oasis usually carries it (call first), I would call Mesa Feed Barn to request organic feed, eventually they'll get the picture that it's something that people in Mesa want. Though I've found them to be mighty stubborn on the phone (the person I got on the phone over there was the guy that insisted that you COULDN'T raise chicks without medicated feed or they would all die... argh). You also might want to consider Azure standard (the mail order place that carries the Magill ranch organic feed). I bet there is a drop point near you.

[Anita Mahaffey]

I have always tried to keep my pets' feed fresh and secure from vermin, but it can be challenging. The dog food is kept in the bag and then a plastic Rubbermaid bin. I used to keep the chicken feed in a small Rubbermaid tub, but it did not seal tightly, and rats started to chew on the lid, trying to get in. I love the new galvanized steel can we bought for storing our chicken feed. I have always been reticent to buy food in large quantities, because just like my family, I want my pets to have fresh fare. Also, if their food were to become contaminated by vermin, I would want to minimize my losses and not have to throw away huge quantities of feed. I feel like once a month is a good rotation for fresh pet food. It works out to about that, more or less.

[Liesl]

Chris, I'll definitely be buying new feed, will just use the "old" stuff to get through a coupl days till I can secure organic feed. They get lots of other produce scraps and whatever they find in the yard as well so I'd hope they're getting a decent variety of nutrients. Thank you so much for all the information!

[Liesl]

Thanks, Rachel, Jenn, and Bobbi,
Till I can get a fresh bag I won't worry about giving our girls the weevil supplemented feed :)
Yes, Mesa Feed Barn is close to us and I've had the same frustrations with them, Rachel. But everytime I do have to go in there for something I bring it up (and suffer through the same eye rolls, stubborn responses, etc.). I'll try Aden's - Higley is definitely closer than halfway to Flagstaff! Ha!

[Jenn Waldron]

These are more than likely grain weevils. From what I've been told this is very common in grain here in the summer.
The store we purchased ours from also said that there is actually some kind of a powder that is made from grain weevils that gives extra protein?
My healthy, happy hens have eaten them all summer.

[Bobbi Smith]

My girls would beg me to pay extra for organic beetle feed :D The exoskeletons are good sources of calcium, too! The only downfall is that the bugs are eating up your feed...in comparison though, it's kind of like crab stuffed lobster for chickens!

My food is not stored in air-tight containers either, just in garbage cans in the barn (with lids, or everyone would be snacking ALL the time!), and we don't have any trouble with bugs. Not sure whether they came with your feed, or just happened to find it and invited all their friends over for dinner :D