Storing Bird Feed (1 Viewer)

[AnotherNightOwl]

Hi,

I have 2 sacks of seed mix along with peanuts and high energy feed balls sat in my hallway. I would prefer to put the lot in the shed, but I want to store it without the possibility of attracting rats, mice etc. I live in the countryside.

Also unsure if the high energy feed balls would be ok because of the extremes of temperature in a shed. There are 50 that came in a plastic tub. Would they melt and end up as a big gooey mess?

What's the best way to store seed, peanuts and fat balls?

Also thinking of getting suet pellets and mealworms, how do you store yours?

 

[Steve Schoech]

A metal garbage can (rubbish bin?) with a latched top (or a large stone on top) keeps the plague of squirrels in my yard out of the seed in our shed. Plastic won't work as they'll readily chew right through it.

 

[The Cumbrian]

I was going to suggest a metal "dustbin" as well. Can't comment on the storage of fat balls. I have never tried it. Just a thought - could you insulate the container if you are worried about extremes of temperature.

 

[etudiant]

Fat balls will get rancid in the heat, although given current temperatures, that may not be much of a threat. Maybe a spot in the fridge would be available.
Afaik, the UK is still mercifully free from raccoons, so a metal garbage can with a tight fitting lid should be adequate for safe seed storage. Spring straps or bungee cord with a hook on the end are easier options than a rock to hold down the lid.

 

[Reader]

Thankfully I live on my own so can keep all my seed in the bedroom without offending anyone.

I have the large plastic bins that are big enough to hold at least 50 kilos of seed each. I keep my Sunflower Hearts in one and mixed seed in the other. I have the fat balls in the big tubs they come in, plus a used one I keep the peanuts in and they are in the bedroom as well.

I buy in bulk and currently also have 4 x 25 kilo sacks of hearts and a 25 kilo sack of mixed seed in the bedroom as well (I did have six sacks of hearts and two of mixed seed not long ago).

John

 

[Joe1980]

I store my seed in my garage, in metal trash cans. I have 5 different cans, for different types of seed, corn, etc. What I do is keep the bulk seed in the cans, and I have smaller containers for mixed seed, sunflower, etc. that is kept in a deck storage box. I fill the feeders from the small containers, and when those run out, I take them to the garage and fill them up. This keeps my deck free of clutter, and also avoids my seed going bad in the hot summer. You'd even be surprised how hot a metal trash can can get in when it is in the sun, even in winter. As for suet, that is best stored in a cool place, like the refrigerator, or freezer. In winter, suet can also be outside, assuming it's cold, and in some sort of container to keep it safe from squirrels and other possible rodents. Mine goes in the deck box I spoke of.

 

[barnstormer]

Try these i've got two and they are great, just hang em on the wall.They hold about 12.5 kg.
http://www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk/vmchk/bird-care-bird-food/bird-food-seed/rspb-seed-hopper.html

 

[Nature__lover]

you can get seed hoppers and things of the RSPB shop.
I only buy small bags at a time so I don't have trouble storing food, it just gets stacked on the kitchen windowledge. putting them in a little bin sounds like a good idea to keep them dry and not exposed to rodents..

 

[TheBirdGarden]

I use big plastic sealable tubs to keep my seed, nuts and apples in. The fatballs I keep under my bed because in all fairness the bedroom is like a freezer.

Although I did have a mouse it was mostly likely attracted to the heaps of hay and pet food that was there free for him to have

 

[Joe1980]

I use big plastic sealable tubs to keep my seed, nuts and apples in. The fatballs I keep under my bed because in all fairness the bedroom is like a freezer.

Although I did have a mouse it was mostly likely attracted to the heaps of hay and pet food that was there free for him to have

You keep heaps of hay and pet food under your bed??

 

[Marmot]

I store mine in plastic airtight containers similar to these.
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/lakeland-...storing-preserving-food-storage/product/13881

In fact the ones I use were what we keep a couple of tiers of our wedding cake in.

 

[TheBirdGarden]

You keep heaps of hay and pet food under your bed??

um no lol should've put that better. The hay and pet food is in the garage and only the fatballs are stored under my bed :-O

 

[Joe1980]

Haha, either way, I got a laugh out of it.

I caught 2 mice a couple of weeks ago in my garage that picked up my seed spillage, and found a spare bag of sunflower seed I had stored up on a work bench. They chewed a hole in it, and decided that the exhaust pipe on my truck was a great place to stash their loot. I figured it out when my exhaust smelled like burnt popcorn. Let me tell you, that is some kind of stink. I had to lay on the gas to force piles of seeds out, and I'm guessing I still have some in there, because it still smells a bit odd.

 

[AnotherNightOwl]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I will get a mix of metal and plastic containers.