Expired barley

[Poultry Kitten]

I have some expired pearl barley from 8 month ago, I was wondering if it could be unsafe to feed to my hens as a treat. It isn’t moldy but has been expired for 8 months.

Thanks

 

[Perris]

by 'expired' do you mean past its 'best before' date? If so, that just means it's past its best, it does not mean it's not any good. Such dates were introduced as a stock management tool; they have little bearing on the edibility of food such as whole grains.

So I would offer them to my chickens, if I was in your shoes, but most of my chickens are not fond of barley, so you might find the uptake disappointing. If you try soaking them in milk overnight and then offer them for breakfast, they might be more palatable to the birds.

 

[saysfaa]

It is safe for your chickens. I would eat it myself. If it was stored in a cool, dry place then it won't have lost much of its nutrition. If it was stored in a warm, dry place, it will have lost some nutrients (vitamins, mostly). Either way, it doesn't become toxic.

 

[Poultry Kitten]

by 'expired' do you mean past its 'best before' date? If so, that just means it's past its best, it does not mean it's not any good. Such dates were introduced as a stock management tool; they have little bearing on the edibility of food such as whole grains.

So I would offer them to my chickens, if I was in your shoes, but most of my chickens are not fond of barley, so you might find the uptake disappointing. If you try soaking them in milk overnight and then offer them for breakfast, they might be more palatable to the birds.

Thanks for the tips! I will see if they eat it if not I will soak it in milk.