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Best rodent proof storage?? Need suggestions

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[Dec 25, 2023

Mouthwash

Songster

May 20, 2023 101 76 101Chicago IL

I've been keeping my feed in a large storage bin with a snap on lid. Think of like what people store Christmas decor in, etc. I never had a problem but today I opened it and smelled something sour and just beneath the surface was a dead mouse. I have no idea how it was able to squeeze in but I guess it did, unless it hopped in last time I had it open. Any better suggestions???

[Dec 25, 2023

User635240

Songster

Feb 10, 2022 850 1,008 211

I use 55 gallon drums with screw on lids, like this: This is what most of my rural Midwest neighbors use. They are thicker plastic than the totes and hold 300 lbs of feed (6 bags of 50 lb feed). You can find them on FB Marketplace or Craigslist for $25-50 each. The ones I have were originally used to import olives, so they are food safe but needed a light cleaning. You might also need a ladle or saucepan with a longish handle to reach the last 20-30 lbs of feed when the drum gets empty.

Reactions:Mouthwash and Callender Girl

[Dec 25, 2023

Sally PB

Addict

Aug 7, 2020 34,637 193,140 1,473Belding, MI

A 10 gallon metal container with a lid. I got it at TSC. It holds a 50 lb bag of feed.

Reactions:Rae in MT, Mouthwash, Callender Girl and 1 other person

[Dec 25, 2023

sdm111

Enabler

May 21, 2013 18,324 50,984 1,186S. louisiana

Large galvanized trash can with lid. Bend in the lid in a couple spots so it clicks onto the can. If outside put a few spots of silicone where the handle connects to the lid to keep rain out

Reactions:Rae in MT, Sally PB, Callender Girl and 2 others

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[Dec 25, 2023

BDutch

organic

May 19, 2015 13,043 66,269 1,207the NetherlandsMy Coop

How many chickens do you have? How much do you need to store?

I use old paint buckets to store the feed for my 6 bantams. Costs nothing. Mouse proof.

Reactions:Sally PB and Callender Girl

[Dec 26, 2023

saysfaa

Free Ranging

Jul 1, 2017 4,656 14,714 601Upper Midwest, USA

I use 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids. It takes two to hold a 50 lb bag of feed.

If I had more chickens, I would use a 55 gallon steel barrel. They are sold near here for $3 as burn barrels, even though they are food grade. The latest ones I got had strawberry syrup still in them. We have to drill the vent holes when we use them as burn barrels. They come with steel lids that clamp on.

Some people use non-working freezers.

Mice can squeeze in between the lid and bin of some of the totes like you describe; other types, they can't. Either way, they will chew though the sides of the bins.

Reactions:Mouthwash, rosemarythyme and Callender Girl

[Dec 26, 2023

Callender Girl

Enabler

Sep 18, 2018 7,603 43,631 1,066North Central Iowa

I use the same method as right down to adding silicone to the base of the handle to keep out the rain.

Reactions:Mouthwash, rosemarythyme, Sally PB and 1 other person

[Dec 26, 2023

SchwartzLakeFarmNC

Songster

Apr 20, 2023 665 1,084 201Coastal NC

I use a large Igloo cooler on wheels, seals out everything and holds a 50lb bag of food, with the handle and wheels it's easily transportable to where ever you want to store it and it's pretty cheap too, less than $40 bucks, no animal can get in or bugs.

Reactions:HoneyBadger302 and Mouthwash

[Dec 28, 2023

duececoop

Chirping

Jul 2, 2012 11 12 87

sdm111 said:

Large galvanized trash can with lid. Bend in the lid in a couple spots so it clicks onto the can. If outside put a few spots of silicone where the handle connects to the lid to keep rain out

This - but I keep in the shed... Holds 2 bags

Cheap from Walmart, no modifications and seals tight.

Reactions:sdm111 and rosemarythyme

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