If you’re delving into homestead life, there’s more than a fleeting chance that your home will soon be full of animals. Even those of us who start with small ideas soon end up with a whole menagerie. After all, a decent variety of animals will play a massive part in your success here. How you are storing feed supplies makes a big difference.
The more animals you have, the more issues you’ll need to consider. As well as getting on top of general care, you’ll need to consider feeding the flocks. Keeping on top of food for one dog may have been easy, but feeding a farmyard is a different matter. For one, you’ll need to find a food supplier who can give you a reliable and consistent deal. You’ll also have to find a way of storing your feed. You will need an area specifically for storing your feed that keeps it healthy and safe for your animals. And, if you think you can cut corners, think again. Improper feed storage can cause the following issues for you and your brood.
Storing Feed Supplies On The Homestead
Waste
Perhaps the main thing to bear in mind is that not storing food well can lead to waste. Given you’re buying in bulk, you’ll get large sacks of food each time you shop. And, once you open that, you can bet scrunching the top of the bag won’t keep things fresh. This isn’t your weekly loaf of bread, after all. That food should last a long time. And, that means temporary sealing measures won’t cut it. Instead, you’ll find yourself chucking untold amounts of stale food. To make sure that doesn’t happen, invest in airtight containers. These can keep everything fresher for longer.
Infestation
Infestation is another significant risk. If you aren’t storing feed supplies correctly, you can bet pests like mice and rats will soon come calling. Lucky for you, companies like Nest Pest Control have got you covered. Isn’t it best to avoid this altogether? Again, airtight containers can help avoid this eventuality. Bear in mind, though, that a determined rat won’t stop at a plastic container. You also want to consider sealing entry points in your foodshed to prevent pests from getting close. It’s also worth sweeping the floor after every feeding session, just for added security.
Disease
Last but by no means least, not storing feed supplies correctly leaves your animals at risk of disease. This is especially the case if rodents or bugs gain access to your feed storage. They carry a whole host of nasty viruses you won’t want your animals coming into contact with. Not only that, but your whole flock will be at risk. So, a disease here could have catastrophic consequences. To avoid this, take the above steps, and also make sure to get rid of any food which may have been infected. It might seem expensive, but it’ll be a lot cheaper than losing all your animals.
How do you store your feed supplies on your homestead? Tell me about it in the comment section below.
1 Comment