Angel wing must be genetic . Right??

[jamband]

My opinion is that the main factor is too much protien. Other factors are exercise (like being kept in too small of a pen when the wings are developing. And yes I also think some birds have a predisposed genetic thing going for them that makes them more apt to get it than others. Thats why unless its a rare species I am definitely not going to use the bird for breeding and so most the time just put them down.

There just has to be a genetic aspect involved in it.........No wild ducks except human fed populations develop angel wing right?? so that screams thats its dietary...but I have a local lake with probably 300 geese and 500 ducks........all fed bread etc 100 times a day by people. There is 2 geese I have ever seen there with angel wing........

Its probably diet triggered but its got to be genetic and again my birds are free range 18 hours a day and fed once so no tight confinement and no overfeeding.

 

[destinduck]

Correct. I mainly have had to go off mine and many others experience. Domestics seem to have it more. Ever since I have got them off the 20% starter before the wing feathers develop and go with 15-16% chicken feed and getting them to bigger growout pens I never have had to deal with it since. And for the record most of mine are on strictly commercial feed. Angelwing has been discussed for a long time. Causes and what not. As most know on here I will ALWAYS take hands on experience over most scientific data. Regardless of the causes. This is just how I personally avoided it for quite some years and dont plan on changing the program. I dont freerange because most all my birds are migratory or exotic waterfowl. It cost alot to lose just one.

Plus I love full-winged waterfowl!!! I have only one bird with angel wing. Its a female Cuban treeduck.

 

[Reyort]

The assumption that wild birds do not get it could be false for this reason. Wild birds with angel wings do not survive. Now if it is a genetic factor, natural selection may have wiped it out.

Another factor could be inbreeding as that could bring out weaknesses in the genetic code. Occasionally bringing in good stock or fresh blood may alleviate the problem. Contrary to popular belief, genes are mostly stable, not completely stable. So continued breeding may result in perpetuating unwanted weaker traits.