Are her wings supposed to be doing this?? Image included

Will have to check out my ducklings. I am feeding them the same feed I am feeding the chickens which is non-medicated chick starter. They are now starting to feather out well. Gotta get more feed Sun or Mon. Will get different feeds as I am going to start my chickens on grower mash. Glad I looked at this thread.
 
Last edited:
Just so you know...nonmedicated feed is not required for waterfowl. That is one of those old wives tails that will not go away.
I have never given any waterofwl I have raised non medicated feed. Those that tell you they lost duckilings over it, just lost ducklings is all, it wasnt the feed it was something else.
This was started way back in the 60's or earlier when we used a much harsser med in the fed. Today meds are 100% safe for them.
So dont let that be the reason for what you buy feed wise.
Think of it this way, ducks can get coccidia too..medicated feed prevents that...so you can let them run a chance of getting coccidia, or feed them medicated feed and not have to worry about it.
 
ah
I got ya

no problem then, do watch the coccidia though..if you get a case of it, it can be bad, Corid in their water if caught early works great.

In this case, just be sure to stay low on the protein and carbs, high on calcium and mag and you'll be fine
 
TY BBB, I will definitely keep an eye out for any signs of disease. I have a friend in Illinois that raised chickens for years naturally. She never had any health issues that weren't quickly resolved. I will have to pick her brain. I definitely do not want any sick birds.

My ducks are spending more time in the pool than out of it in this hot weather. That is for sure. 36 of the last 52 days have been above 100* F. I am letting them free range. They are about 1-1/2 months old now. The chicks are a little over a month old. Amazing the size difference.
 
tell me about it, been that way here in south GA since first of June was 107 wed where I'm at.
Good thing with ducks though, they pass so much water threw their systems, that disease and parasites are pretty low on them. But they still bare watching. Free ranging helps a lot too, cause they arent in a pen style setting where they are constantly in each others poop
 
Just looking at the way you have wrapped those wings. The flight feathers (the ones that were sticking out) need to be tucked underneath the 'elbow'. They should be right next to the body with nothing between them and the body. You should not be able to see them much at all, maybe just the wing tips. Have a look at how the wings fold on your normal ducks, with the last joint with the big feathers on it sitting the closest to the body and tucked under the elbow. That's how it needs to be with your duckling. It just doesn't look right to me in your photo. My apologies if I have got it wrong though
smile.png
 
Alrighty Guys and Gals, Today at three I officially started treatment. I found a way to wrap Gertrude without her pulling it off, and it doesn't cut off blood flow. Circle around twice, go diagonal under one leg, half circle, diagonal under the other leg, and that keeps everything in place. Yesterday was a test run for wraps. I went through a lot of wrap before I found vet wrap. Gertrude is wearing neon pink wrap! Only because they didn't have purple. Here's a photo:

99902_dscn0304.jpg


And what could I feed Gertrude that doesn't have much protein? She's eating 10% protein horse feed until I get home tomorrow... But I wish I had something better... Any help? I don't think she's eating much....
 
Looking at a pic of my ducks, I think one of my White Pekins may have the start of angel wings. Will try to catch it tomorrow and see. Now would be the time to correct it as they don't yet have their flight wings. They are just starting to feather out.

What I am seeing in the pic is the pinkish flare outs at the ends of the wings on the one with its back to me in this pic.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/99442_ducks_071611.jpg
 
Last edited:
sounds like it gordie

OP

that wrap does look much better. The horse feed isnt good for them though, they usually have alot of ingredients in them that are just as bad for angel wing as the high protein.
Just a basic 14% poultry feed is good, most any layer pellet or crumble is in that 14-15% range, just use that and you'll be fine.
Some birds, if they come from genetic lines that are sensitive to all this are just going to get it, others are tuffer and can eat 20%, so a lot of it can be from genetics, but the underlying cause is the protein levels and other nutritional things I mentioned.
Just head to your feed store and look for the lowest protein level poultry feed you can find and it should greatly help.
You can also mix in a lot of greens into their diets. Everything like that that you add, lowers the overall protien intake of the birds. Even corn will help, it's only 8% at tops, so the lower protein feeds you can mix into the diet will take away from their overall daily protein level intake and help correct the problem.
Once she's done growing and fully feathered, you can feed her anything you like. they wont get it as adults.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom