How to feed tankage?

[cajuninky]

I bought some tankage on the advice of a freind. He feeds it to his flock so they won't peck each other. I am having the beginnings of the problem with my small flock so I bought the tankage. How do I feed it? In with the feed or in a feeder. Everyday or every so often?

 

[snowflake]

what is tankage?

 

[CARS]

Quote:

 

[OwensMom]

Have no idea what "tankage" is.

 

[Tala]

Never heard of Tankage either, but a web dictionary produced

2. Animal residues that remain after rendering fat in a slaughterhouse, used for fertilizer or feed.


and

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Agriculture) Agriculture
a. fertilizer consisting of the dried and ground residues of animal carcasses
b. a protein supplement feed for livestock

So um.....it sounds like a low-end, low-cost way of upping the protein content of the feed. Feather eating is usually the result of protein deficiency.
Feather picking (without eating the feathers) is usually the result of overcrowding and boredom. Best to figure out which is the problem

However, upping the protein of the feed isn't hard. MOST people on this forum usually use gamebird food or chicken grower food.
If you are feeding a lot of corn or scratch treats, cut all that out. If you want to feed treats use black oil sunflower seeds instead of scratch.​

 

[CARS]

tankage
One entry found.

Main Entry: tank·age
Pronunciation: \\ˈtaŋ-kij\\
Function: noun
Date: 1866

1 a : the aggregate of tanks required for a purpose b : the capacity or contents of a tank
2 : dried animal residues usually freed from the fat and gelatin and used as fertilizer and feedstuff
3 : the act or process of putting or storing in tanks

I am assuming #2. "Feedstuff"

 

[cajuninky]

The problem started when a couple of my hens got scratches on their backs from the big EE roo I keep with them. The others have started "picking" at their wounds as chickens will. The tankage is supposed to alleviate the problem.

 

[CARS]

Quote:
What is in it?? We figured out that it is by-products but what part of that is going to help with picking???

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

We figured out that it is by-products but what part of that is going to help with picking???

The theory is that increasing protien will stop the problem​

 

[weirdmuse]

seems like they're picking at the wound rather than protein deficient. I wonder if just treating the scratches on the few hens with bluecote would stop the problem.