Aflatoxin & Moisture Management

The Dangers of Moldy Feed

Aflatoxins settle in the quail’s liver. Signs of poisoning include:

Birds losing balance or “twisting” their necks.
Greenish-yellow diarrhea.
Sudden death of the healthiest-looking birds. Once a bird is poisoned, there is no cure. Prevention is your only medicine.

How to Store Feed Like a Pro

The Pallet Rule: Store feed bags on wooden pallets or plastic crates. Concrete floors “sweat” (release moisture), which the bag soaks up, leading to mold at the bottom.
The First-In, First-Out (FIFO) Rule: Always use the oldest bag of feed first. Never buy more than two weeks’ worth of feed at a time during the rainy season.
The Sniff Test: Before pouring feed into the troughs, smell it. It should smell “toasty” or like grain. If it smells “musty,” “sour,” or like an old basement, throw it away or use it for compost. Do not feed it to the quails.

Local Example: The Damp Store Disaster

In Thika, an agripreneur bought 20 bags of feed on offer to save money. He stored them in a corrugated iron store with a small leak in the roof. During the long rains, the bags became damp. Within three days of feeding this to his 1,000 birds, he lost 400 quails. He lost KES 28,000 worth of birds to save KES 2,000 on “discounted” feed.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

Rodent Control: Rats don’t just eat feed; they pee on it. Their urine causes “Leptospirosis” and encourages mold growth. Keep your store rat-proof.
Clean the Troughs: Every morning, blow out the “dust” from the bottom of the feed troughs. This dust is often where mold starts to grow if it gets damp from the birds’ breath.
Buy Branded: Try to buy feed from reputable millers who test for aflatoxin levels at the factory.