Angel wing ???

[Annie-mae]

Hello! I'm a new user, but I have been lurking on BYC since I rescued two ducklings from my brother who wasn't caring for them properly. I have minimal knowledge about ducks so bare with me please! I am posting this to ask about my youngest drake who is probably about a month old maybe a little younger. He is a rouen named Loyd and i love him to death even though he's kinda a loner. Anyways for the duration of my time with them they have been healthy and active. During the day they are outside foraging with a large kiddie pool and i bring them in at night as we have a racoon problem. Anyways (sorry I ramble) today when I went to feed them i noticed that the left side of his wing is asymmetrical to his right. I believe they are called speculum feathers? They are blue, I'm not very sure. They stick out away from his body, but the rest of the wing is fine. Is this normal or early stages of angel wing? I looked around the forum and couldn't find anything exactly like what's going on with him. I will try and get some pictures. Please someone help this worried duck mom!

 

[Annie-mae]

Here is left vs right and a behind veiw sorry I have a bad camera and loyd is waddling around like usual making my life rough

 

[WVduckchick]

Following is a quote that I saved from Ravynscroft that may help you.

Angel wing shows up when the first set of flight feathers starts to grow out, no matter the age... it is all depeendent on when each particular duck is growing out their primaries... that being said, primaries are very heavy pinfeathers that ducklings aren't used to and need to build up the set of muscles used to keep them in place and tucked in properly, so many times they stick out a bit before they learn how to keep them folded... and the tips need to reach a certain length before they will even catch properly when they fold them up...

If it self corrects, then it's just 'growing pains' and akwardness from new, heavy feathers... true angel wing *does not* self correct, it always needs to be corrected... but wrapping when unsure if it is angel wing or not does not hurt them and many wrap *just in case*...

I do suggest waiting just a bit longer before deciding to wrap or not, just because the pin feathers are still short and messing with them can be a bit sore for them... and if they get broke, they *can* bleed rather badly... I prefer a good bit of the feathers to extend out first, plus it gives more to tuck in properly for correct growth...

After much research and personal, hands on experience, it does seem more likely that angel wing is more likely a hereditary issue more than a too much protein issue... and can be more common in Calls than other breeds just due to the extremes Calls tend to be bred for...

They do still need a proper, balanced diet though... and too high of protein is not recommended... a good average is 20%, but slightly higher or lower (+/-2%) is fine... they do have higher Niacin requirements than chicks though, so chick starter should be supplemented with brewers yeast mixed in or Vitamin B complex added to their water...

Or switch to a good feed with her Niacin content like Purina Flock Raiser... that can be fed from hatch to lay and is formulated at higher amounts of Niacin... I still keep brewers yeast on hand though as occasional mess ups in formula and feed production have happened...

 

[Annie-mae]

Thank you! I figured it might just be from growth, since he is smaller than his brother and is feathering out slower. I will start to add niacin to their water and feeed, and watch out for him. He is acting fine and flapping his wings as usual and they rest fine. Sorry for jumping the gun, but these are pretty much my only sons as I can not have children. Thank you for taking the time to reply to me.

 

[chickens really]

Not Angel wing....This is Angel wing..

 

[featherhead007]

Here is left vs right and a behind veiw sorry I have a bad camera and loyd is waddling around like usual making my life rough

Nobody is perfect!

 

[casportpony]

Following is a quote that I saved from Ravynscroft that may help you.

Angel wing shows up when the first set of flight feathers starts to grow out, no matter the age... it is all depeendent on when each particular duck is growing out their primaries... that being said, primaries are very heavy pinfeathers that ducklings aren't used to and need to build up the set of muscles used to keep them in place and tucked in properly, so many times they stick out a bit before they learn how to keep them folded... and the tips need to reach a certain length before they will even catch properly when they fold them up...

If it self corrects, then it's just 'growing pains' and akwardness from new, heavy feathers... true angel wing *does not* self correct, it always needs to be corrected... but wrapping when unsure if it is angel wing or not does not hurt them and many wrap *just in case*...

@tawirth604 I do suggest waiting just a bit longer before deciding to wrap or not, just because the pin feathers are still short and messing with them can be a bit sore for them... and if they get broke, they *can* bleed rather badly... I prefer a good bit of the feathers to extend out first, plus it gives more to tuck in properly for correct growth...

After much research and personal, hands on experience, it does seem more likely that angel wing is more likely a hereditary issue more than a too much protein issue... and can be more common in Calls than other breeds just due to the extremes Calls tend to be bred for...

They do still need a proper, balanced diet though... and too high of protein is not recommended... a good average is 20%, but slightly higher or lower (+/-2%) is fine... they do have higher Niacin requirements than chicks though, so chick starter should be supplemented with brewers yeast mixed in or Vitamin B complex added to their water...

Or switch to a good feed with her Niacin content like Purina Flock Raiser... that can be fed from hatch to lay and is formulated at higher amounts of Niacin... I still keep brewers yeast on hand though as occasional mess ups in formula and feed production have happened...

 

[Annie-mae]

Thank you all! I really appreciate it and I am so happy to have joined the community! Also, Chickens Really, that duck is still sooo precious

 

[casportpony]

Here is left vs right and a behind veiw sorry I have a bad camera and loyd is waddling around like usual making my life rough

Welcome to BYC!

Angel wing is more common in drakes and it's usually the left wing, so because your duck is a drake, and it's the left wing, I think that this is worth keeping an eye on.

 

[WVduckchick]

Welcome to BYC!

Angel wing is more common in drakes and it's usually the left wing, so because your duck is a drake, and it's the left wing, I think that this is worth keeping an eye on.

x2 I saw the month-old comment, and read right over the drake part, and couldn't really see the pics. But definitely worth watching, and learning what to do in advance of it getting worse.