storage containers - what is the best?

[naturespace]

Last time I had chickens I lived in the suburbs and kept feed inside the house. I stored it in a gamma vault container. We had no mice or other pests to worry about. Now we are out in the country and need to figure out what to store our feed in. It will be out in a shed near the chickens. I'm sure mice and such could figure out it's there and chew through a plastic container.

What are your favorite pest proof containers to store 50+lbs of feed, scratch, DE...?

 

[debid]

I'm using a Vittles Vault under a lean-to wood shelter next to the coop. I set it in a corner and on top of an old bucket so it's not directly on the ground. It's working great!

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

I use BIG metal trash cans, big enough to store two feed bags each. I lift the lid, and scoop from the bags inside.

Not terribly attractive, but extremely functional - and zero "evidence" of mouse invasions. (We have our share of mice around.)

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I use BIG metal trash cans, big enough to store two feed bags each. I lift the lid, and scoop from the bags inside.

Not terribly attractive, but extremely functional - and zero "evidence" of mouse invasions. (We have our share of mice around.)

+1

I elevate my cans on pallets in my insulated garage. No moisture problems when I do this.

 

[PtldChick]

I use plastic bins with hinge lids for feed - they fit two 50 lb bags and can stack on top of each other - $8 each on sale at Wilco. Portland has a big rat problem and I've trapped a few in the run, and so far, there have been no chews through either the plastic bin or the plastic home depot buckets I use for BOSS, Flax seed, etc. No issues with galvanized metal when using plastic, totally waterproof/rustproof, and they're cheaper, too.

The rats did eat through a paper bag of treat parrot feed, which is when I started storing everything in plastic.

 

[naturespace]

Thanks everyone.
I think we will try out the galvanized trah cans. Any tricks for keeping the lid secure? I was thinking a few bricks.

 

[psycoforsilkies]

I use the food grade 55 gallon barells with screw top lids, they work great i keep bags of feed inthem, then when i need one i put it in 2 5 gallon buckets for everyday use. so no mice get inthe food they are in my pump house/shed

 

[txchickie]

I keep my feed in the whtie TSC 5 gallon buckets with lids. A 50lb bag of flock raiser fits perfectly into two 5 gal buckets.

 

[lolita117]

I use two 20 gallon metal trash can. One trash can hold almost two 50lb bags of feed. I also use just a plain plastic storage tote (around 25-30 gallon size) to hold my scratch, grit, and calcium. Since I have found that no mice have been able to get into that plastic storage tote if I keep the lid on it, I'm think about increasing my storage for feed. I was thinking of a 45-50 gallon size plastic storage tote with lid and maybe making some kind of wooden box for it to fit down into. I like the idea of a plastic tote that I can get out of the wood box to empty out every last little bit and clean it. But it be in the wooden box for support and keep things from chewing through the bottom of the tote, which I have no experienced with my current plastic tote. I figured a 45 gallon tote would hold 200+ pounds of feed. Plus I will keep both trash cans - one for Chick starter and one as an actual trash can.

You might want to consider something like this with a smaller sized tote to hold the amount of feed for your needs.

 

[MyHappyChicks]

I use gamma vaults. They come in all shapes and colors with screw on lids that are air and water tight. They make a conversion lid that fastened to 3 and 5 gallon buckets. Costco lists them in on there web sight. Our local Home Depot is carrying the lids for them also. About 10.00 per lid or 120.00 for 10 lids with buckets from Costco. I bought them from Costco and what is nice is you get three different colors lids and it makes it really nice to keep track as to what is in each container. Never yet had problems with mice or rats with them and I live next door to the modern version of Sanford and Son.