Advice about storing seed.

[Janie]

I bought large quantities of seed at the last bird fair. Seven 6 lb. bags. They are sealed and when I do open one, I put it in the freezer after I take out a 3 to 5 day supply. OK, what I'd like to know is can I keep this unopened seed in my garage? It's in the low 30's here at night and the highs are usually in the low 50's. Before, when I only bought a couple of bags, I kept the unopened bag(s) in a cupboard in my kitchen so it was stored at room temperature. Seven bags won't easily fit but I can find room inside if necessary. Thanks!

[linda040899]

Janie,
If these bags are sealed in plastic, you can leave them outside in the garage. I might be tempted to buy a plastic container to put them all in but the winter temperatures should not be a problem. I have a freezer and that's where I store all my opened seed. During the summer, I keep my new bags inside in A/C. You've got to remember, though, that I will go through 50# of seed in a week with no problems. When I have the seed in the freezer, I only take out what I will use for the day and the rest stays in the freezer.

[Janie]

Thanks, Linda! I do have a large tupperware container in my garage and they can go inside that. Fifty pounds in one week.....:omg:......I can't even imagine! :D

[Mummieeva]

I would also wrap them in another bag if you can to stop from little critters. I use a pickle jar for my weekly seeds..lol. The rest I keep in frezer. I am going to be getting a deep freazer soon so I can store more extra's and not worry as much.



Steph

[bellarains]

I split mine up into ziploc baggies and keep it in the freezer. I do have two deep freezers so I have room. I don't recall seeing a deep freezer when I was there. Hmmmm, might be a good Christmas present;)

[butterfly1061]

I thought about getting one of those small deep freezers for the garage. I think I found one for around $200 or even less. I have a side-by-side frig and next time I buy one I'm getting the new ones with the big freezer on the bottom and the big frig on the top.

[p3rr4n]

Karen has been asking for a freezer to store meats and stuff in for a while now. At first I was like,"we dont need no dang freezer" until the followng event:

I have 3 storage places for Trixies food.

1. Tupperware containers I keep a little bit in that I use for daily feeding
2. Freezer storage. The daily food goes here for at least 48 hours before I move it to the daily bins
3. BIG plastic crate I keep bulk in.

So, the last time I went to replentish the freezer containers I went to big storage bin and I found little citters in the food! I prolly wasted 4 or 5 pounds worth of dried fuits and seeds and stuff. :(

Needless to say I have revisited my methods.

So the next time Karen brought up the freezer idea, I of course changed my tune and said "Yeah I think a freezer is a good idea". I just didnt say why. :whistle:

[Janie]

I do have two refrigerators and two freezers, one in each frig. but I also have a family of four right now so it's impossible to get all seven bags in the freezers (at one time) cause there is also people food in there. :lol I do freeze any opened bag but I've never frozen the unopened bags, just put them in a cupboard but with that much seed, I'm running out of cupboard room! :D Don't want to open them and put them in zip locks since they are factory sealed already. These bags do have a zip lock which is convenient after opening.

[BarbieH]

Janie, what are you doing lifting all that seed with your shoulder messed up?? You better be getting some help with that missy! ;)

[Janie]

Barb, :lol.....the seed is still in the box it was shipped in, in the trunk of my car! I bought it from a supplier but they gave it to me in the original shipping box. My son will move it today! :D Actually, it's my rib(s) instead of a shoulder but you're right, I should not be lifting and especially since I have three lifters here! :D Funny how they all seem to vanish when I need something lifted! :rolleyes:

[shylevon]

You might want to put a couple of mousie catchers amidst the seed containers. It would surprise you how birdseed will attract the little buggers, and I can't see Oliver being to pleased about picking mousie poopins out from his lunch. Ensure the seed remains very dry, or you might introduce a mold problem, especially with fluctuating temperatures from day to night.

[Janie]

Mice???? Oh my, Shy, I've had rats digging through my wild bird seed in my garage. That's why I use metal containers with lids that lock. I've had the rats eating though the tupperware. Don't tell my hubby....he would freak out! :D

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Janie, weren't you saying you had a snake in the garage as well? LOL! The rats are eating the seed and the snake is eating the rats! The rats should go away when the seed is no longer accessible. With the rats gone, the snake will move on. :)

[Janie]

Oh Lord, I had forgotten about that snake! Thanks for the reminder! :lol OK, the rats eat the seed, the snake eats the rats.....who's gonna eat the snakes? :D

[Z28Taxman]

Oh Lord, I had forgotten about that snake! Thanks for the reminder! :lol OK, the rats eat the seed, the snake eats the rats.....who's gonna eat the snakes? :D


Go to Louisiana and hire a Cajun. They seem to eat almost anything. :lol

[Janie]

Dave, :rofl:

[Mummieeva]

My mother in law is Cajun..I agree they eat anything..lol.:rofl:


Steph