Feeding rancid flaxseed

[humblehillsfarm]

I have a bunch of flaxseed I bought for myself but they smell rancid and are old. Is it safe to give to my chickens and will there still be nutritional merit?

 

[igorsMistress]

If it’s rancid I wouldn’t.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My first answer is "don't".

If you are intent upon trying to use it, my thought is this. Flaxseed and other high fat food sources usually go rancid because the fat has gone/is going over. Something about unsaturated fats that I would have to look up again before trying to explain (another cup of coffee would help, too).

Anyhow, ferment it. The free fats should largely come to the top. Skim it off. If the rest of it is good, the birds will eat it. If not, they will avoid it - so be sure you spread it on the compost pile in the run, and not in a feeder.

This advice worth not more, and perhaps less, than you paid for it. Caveat Emptor. Seller assumes no risk, no warranty is made, expressed or implied. Blah blah blah...

 

[humblehillsfarm]

My first answer is "don't".

If you are intent upon trying to use it, my thought is this. Flaxseed and other high fat food sources usually go rancid because the fat has gone/is going over. Something about unsaturated fats that I would have to look up again before trying to explain (another cup of coffee would help, too).

Anyhow, ferment it. The free fats should largely come to the top. Skim it off. If the rest of it is good, the birds will eat it. If not, they will avoid it - so be sure you spread it on the compost pile in the run, and not in a feeder.

This advice worth not more, and perhaps less, than you paid for it. Caveat Emptor. Seller assumes no risk, no warranty is made, expressed or implied. Blah blah blah...

The intent was to ferment it, however it isn’t that big of a deal to just toss. Thank you all.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I admit I am now curious - but not curious enough to go buy some flaxseed, let it start to go over, then ferment to find out.

Maybe someone who has done so before will drop in and satisfy my desire for that little bit of (hopefully never needed) trivia.