4 month old muscovy duck with drooping wings

[Minusthebuff]

Hello all! Hope I'm doing this right

I've noticed one of my young ducks both of it's wings have been drooping, to the point where the tips will drag on the ground when it walks around. I think this has been going on for almost a week now (I haven't been home enough to notice and no one else on the farm has paid attention to the little fella). The duck's been eating/drinking, pooping, and acting normal. It has not flown yet unlike its sibling, but it will run around and flap its wings. None of the other ducks have had this wing problem either.

Anyone have any ideas? I've read other forums on here and I've seen it's either early signs of angel wing, or just heavy blood feathers coming in.

White one with black helmet (Cheese) is droopy wing one, black & white one (Burger) is the sibling who's wings are fine.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They can get so heavy with blood especially the drakes that their wings will droop so that just might be the problem I have seen my Muscovy drakes do this when their flight feathers are full of blood. That looks pretty extreme although it doesn't look like Angel is starting. Does he try lifting them up and putting them where they should be? this is what I have seen they will droop then they will lift them in normal position then back to drooping this is actually getting the wing muscles strong enough to hold the wings once they are fully grown in.

 

[DukesDucks]

Some of my young Muscovy ducks had the same droopy wing. It did self correct as they got older and stronger. My younger ducks come running out of the coop each morning, then flap around the run each morning. The older ducks look at them as if they are idiots.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Waiting for the wing muscles to get strong. Nothing we can do it's all up to him. But hopefully, this will start getting better soon as the muscles strengthen. You've seen how long the wing span is on these drakes that takes alot of strength to hold them up. Make sure your feeding a good well rounded diet and not a lot of treats. Let us know when he finally gets them to stay put where their suppose to be.

 

[ruthhope]

He will keep practicing by flapping his wings -- my drakes do it every morning as soon as they get out of the coop. The also occasionally do it running up and down the back garden. I haven't had a boy fly off yet -- the fat lumps know where the easy food is!!! So, I tease them saying "are you practicing for leaving home?" But seriously, flapping his wings will strengthen those wing muscles until he can hold them up, in place

 

[Minusthebuff]

@Miss Lydia @ruthhope
Will do on an update!! The chickens usually take all the treats before the ducks get to em so no worries about that hahaha
Thank you for your input!!! I appreciate it!!

 

[ruthhope]

Some of my young Muscovy ducks had the same droopy wing. It did self correct as they got older and stronger. My younger ducks come running out of the coop each morning, then flap around the run each morning. The older ducks look at them as if they are idiots.

I don't know how old are your older ducks but mine in their third year still do it. Some of it is drake bravado. Some of it is habit. And some of it might be "if only these things would work properly I might go and look for a mate". But they don't leave home when the gate is left open as they are more interested in food and nosing in my patio windows than anything else

 

[Canadian Wind]

Agree that this is just new feathers coming in. Looks like Cheese is indeed male, and I think Burger is a female. I also notice them sitting a lot, even to eat, as they go through their growth spurts. Poor boys, they have all the growing pains!

 

[DukesDucks]

My oldest drake, Jack, is at least 8 years old. I have had him for 5 years and he has always been too dignified to get in a kiddy pool or embarrass himself trying to fly.

Most of the other ducks are 5 years old. That drake, Kitkat, can empty a kiddy pool with his splashing. He also can't resist a female in the pool. When he and his siblings were a year old, the females were great flyers but him not so much. I watched him grab his sister out of the air as she flew over him. This group will occasionally flap around the run.

It is the two 6 month old females that have the morning crazies, flapping and running around on their tippy toes. Gives me my morning smile every day.

 

[Minusthebuff]

That's adorable I've noticed every morning when I let everyone outta the coop mom, dad, and Burger will fly around the yard while Cheese will run and flap his wings trying to catch up. Once the rest of the family lands they walk back to him to meet him halfway for today's morning shenanigans