Old Hazel Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Hi My bright pink Cube is now ordered and we're getting very excited. Just a quick question for you experienced people: how do you store your feed? Should it be in a metal container in case rats get at it? Can anyone recommend a good practical way of keeping it in good nick and safe? I feel such a novice - will I ever be an eggspert like you all? Hazel x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I keep mine in a metal dustbin ( Top Cat variety) with a luggage cord to hold the lid down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figarogir1 Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Metal bin with a cord to hold the lid on for me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Ditto!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted July 21, 2010 Author Share Posted July 21, 2010 OK - metal top cat dustbin sounds the way to go! I guess it has to be stainless steel or something to stop it rusting? Thanks very much! Hazel x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Plastic bin with metal clips to hold the lid on. I know plastic is not rat-proof, but it's inside the garage and I've not had a problem so far. (I think the cats do regular sentry-duty around the garage!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicho Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I've got a pet food container bin which we picked up in pets at home for about a tenner. It is ideal as it has a safe lid with catch and in the lid there is an included food scoop. Just tried to find it on the website but it doesn't come up - must be in store only as I saw them in there the other day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Normal plastic dustbin & lid for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Metal bin here too . I also fill a large plastic box with pellets/bokashi/grit/garlic powder and keep that in the kitchen for easy grub topups - it lasts about 2-3 weeks before I have to fill it up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 ...in the dining room!! Well... what should be the dining room....but now is the bedroom for the dog and chinchillas...as well as the tumble dryer and various animal feeds!! It's only temp until we get a canopy sorted in the garden and then everything will go into metal bins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I keep a couple of big tuppaware contrainers in the conservatory, one filled with a mixture of layers mash, crumb, pellets and poultry spice and another with mixed corn. I also keep a tub of mealworms and other bits and pieces in there. I'm not sure how much food other people give their hens and I worry about the food going stale at times, seems you have to put an awful lot of food into the grubs. Right now what I do is I empty what is left in the grub every evening, put some fresh food in the bottom and then put the old food on top of that so that hopefully that will get eaten first. I also change their water in the evening as I have more time then, although I have no idea if it's a good idea to change it later in the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Hi - just as an alternative, we use a plastic coal bunker - it's worked fine for the last 18 months and will easily hold 3 bags of pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millihelen Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Homebase plastic recycling bin with hinged lid. It lives on a shelf in our back porch - and because the hinged flap is at the front, rather than on top, it is economical on space. It takes a full sack of pellets, with room for a scoop. I also have bokashi bran next to it in an ice cream tub, grit in an old sandwich box and the corn is kept by patio door in an old cadburys heroes tin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted July 22, 2010 Author Share Posted July 22, 2010 Thanks everyone. We're trying to get everything together. The feed should come when the Cube arrives and so I want to be able to store it properly. The post about the bad grain was really scary. Another quick question if you don't mind? Do you have to have the chickens vaccinated every year? Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Chicken vaccines come in uber bulk as they are intended for commercial flocks. Unless you have somewhere nearby who will let you tag your chickens onto theirs when they have them vaccinated, it is not really cost effective. I don't think many of us have our girls vaccinated unless they were done before we got them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted July 24, 2010 Author Share Posted July 24, 2010 Thanks for the info Chucky Mama. I won't worry about vaccinations then. Back to the storing feed issue: we've just been up to a DIY/garden store and found a metal chest which might work well. We'll be able to put plastic containers inside the metal box which locks. Can chickens overeat? Is it wrong to put out too much food? Or do they just stop eating when they've had enough - unlike me Hazel x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaffer Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 If any one wants to know where to get storage tubs for food check out this site. I ordered yesterday when my cube,chickens and food arrived.They delivered next day http://www.solentplastics.co.uk/industrial-business-storage-boxes/#AirtightCateringContainers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb Dav Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 We have two plastic bins with lids - one for the pellets and the other for the chicken treat - both of which are kept in the garage. I scoop in the daily rations of pellets each morning into a large tupperware box and then trot out in PJ's to let the girls out and fill the hopper. They are given one scoop of chicken treat in the evening to ensure they are full before bedtime.... they love picking out the corn and raisins. It all depends on where you are locating your girls and how far it is to get their food/treats to them plus unloading the car when you buy in new provisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelurch Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 We have an old metal locker in the top shed, with double doors. Inside we have about 3 shelves and I keep a plastic box with lid which holds the contents of a 20kg bag. I have a 5kg bag of mixed corn just loose on the shelf, and a tub of yummy meal worms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
