Storing food

[Tammie]

In preparation for Oliver coming home, I bought all the good he is currently eating at the nursery, now...... The bird nursery recommends storing it all in the freezer, is this a must? It is ALOT of food they sold me assorted kinds. Or..... Could I store it in a air tight container with a screw in lid, such as a very large Tupperware or even air tight dog food container? This was my thought. Not sure if it's advisable. If it is possible, does one know where I could find a large enough container as such?

 

[SailBoat]

It is not uncommon for Dry Food(s) for Parrots to have some bug larva in with the 'stuff.' This commonly happens during shipping to the processing facility or in the facility itself. Freezing for at least 30 days (some will state shorter) will kill those larva and eliminate any problems later.

An ever increasing number of Pellets are made without preservatives and those require Freezing. The others will stay fresher longer, if they are Frozen.

Its your choice, choose wisely.

We have always used the Zip Top Freezer bags, because they just pack tighter.

 

[Flboy]

I store everything in the freezer!
If the food is high quality, it will spoil rather quickly!

 

[Tammie]

I understand. Thank you. Just asking because the bird store keeps them in bins wide open. No door, and in large quantities. I'm surprised in such large quantity it isn't spoiled there.

 

[Flboy]

It does suffer, but when the oil goes rancid, you will know it! Also, hopefully, they keep the humidity low. Mold is a killer!

 

[SailBoat]

Just my two-cents; I would never buy from an 'Open Bin!' Never!

 

[macawluv]

What brand of food? Ones without preservatives(ideal) like TOPS and golden feast should be stored in the freezer. I store all of my pellets in the freezer in 1 week portions I would also not buy from an open bin at a bird store...

 

[Piasa]

Best storage for unopened food is to leave it sealed in the bag. Once open, you can store in a jar. Glass is better than plastic. I use the kind with a silicone seal and metal flip lock mechanism (no idea what these are called), but you can find them at kitchen stores, TJ Maxx and the like.

Whether frozen or not, keep foods in the dark to preserve freshness.

I'm not currently feeding pellets, but when I do I always buy the smallest bag possible. So many nutrients degrade quickly, and I want them to get into my birds, not disappear into the aether.