Tiny Black Bugs in New Chick Feed Bag

[mcleveland]

I thought they were ants, but they aren't. Not sure what they are? Never had this problem before. I bought the bag yesterday at TSC (I've got new babies this morning). Went to put the feed in the chick feeder, went back to close up the bag and noticed all these little bugs. So I figured I needed to take the bag back and exchange it. But then I thought, chickens eat bugs, duh. However, would it be ok for the babies (2 days old) to eat them? (pics below)

 

[Free Spirit]

Weevils. Can be found among many different types of grains (including rice). Typically found in wheat and wheat products such as flour. Don't know if your chickens will choose to try and eat them or not. But if the bag of feed smell moldy or funky throw it out. Otherwise I think it will probably be fine. If you're worried about the chicks eating them then you may just want to get a new bag and let the older hens have the bag with the weevils.

 

[Folly's place]

Check the date on the bag; it sounds old to me. Vitamins degrade over time, and your chicks need fresh feed. Return it! Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

Return it. Yes, chickens eat bugs, but those bugs eat feed, and bug infested feed is old feed. Do you have an other supplier near you? When I find feed outdated, or infested with bugs, or signs of the grain moths in a building, I take my business elsewhere. Check the date on the bag. It's probably old. Not to mention, that if that feed is in your house, those little bugs will infest your kitchen. I've had both issues with the moths and the little beetles, and they're a beast to erradicate.

 

[mcleveland]

I returned it. It had a made date of 6/2/15 (not exp. date). I got another bag off the shelf just like it, we opened it in the store- same thing! So just went ahead and got a bag of the other chick feed brand that's not organic/non-gmo

 

[Folly's place]

That feed was just too old, glad you got something fresher! Mary

 

[Cheralinn]

Organic Feed has a 4 month shelf life

 

[nuthatched]

Organic Feed has a 4 month shelf life

This thread is from 2015, my friend, you're likely going to get a response.

 

[Cheralinn]

This thread is from 2015, my friend, you're likely going to get a response.

Wasn't expecting a response just sharing knowledge in case somebody stumbled in like I did

 

[Larry Ted]

Wasn't expecting a response just sharing knowledge in case somebody stumbled in like I did

I'm here, and it's 2024. We have such bugs in our feed and I've just been feeding it to them as the feed is pretty fresh itself. A couple of my chickens have runny poop, though, so was wondering if those bugs had anything to do with it?

I set a bowl in the feed bucket and those bugs love to hide under it. So in the morning I get to scoop a big pile of them out.