Crossed wings?

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

I have three Saxony hens. Two of the ducks' wings fold closely to their bodies, but for one of them, her wings cross at the tips. Is this a problem? And as far as showing, is this bad?

 

[70%cocoa]

Generally speaking, wings that cross over on the back are a fault in any breed. Do the wings cross all the time (a fault) or just sometimes when they fold them in a certain way (not really a problem)?

 

[GrannyCarol]

How old are they? Is she molting? When they molt the wing feathers do crazy things. Otherwise they really shouldn't cross over, its a weakness in the wing strength. It can be caused by improper nutrition as they grow (they grow too fast and the wings are not strong enough when the first flight feathers come in, so the weight of the growing feathers pulls them out of place), or it can be genetic. I'd probably not breed one with this defect and definitely not show it. It's fine for eggs to eat though. If they hang down a lot, you may want to trim the feathers on the part that hangs out to protect the wing. Don't trim feathers that are actively growing and, if this is going on as new feathers are growing, wait to see how it turns out when they are done, she might be fine.

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

She's only five months old. So it may be just because she's still growing? And they're always crossed.

 

[70%cocoa]

GrannyCarol, I think the OP might be describing something different. Not angle-wing like but just wing tips that cross over a little down near the tail when folded. If it is that then it's not a nutrition or development issue, just a feature that is frowned on in the beauty contest stakes. The wings are normally developed.

OP, is a photo possible?

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

70%cocoa :

GrannyCarol, I think the OP might be describing something different. Not angle-wing like but just wing tips that cross over a little down near the tail when folded. If it is that then it's not a nutrition or development issue, just a feature that is frowned on in the beauty contest stakes. The wings are normally developed.

OP, is a photo possible?

Yeah. I'll get on that. Not sure how great it'll be, 'cause they're pretty skittish but I'll try.​

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

They didn't let me get very close; this is the best picture I could get.

The duck on the left. Look really closely at the tips of her wings.

 

[70%cocoa]

Yep, I see it. There's nothing wrong with her physically or health wise, but it is a fairly serious fault in the show pen. Apart from that they are nice ducks. I would be showing the others though if their wings don't cross. The one in the middle - do her wings cross a bit? She seems to have the best head/neck markings (but I know next to zero about Saxony ducks).

 

[GrannyCarol]

I have had wing feathers look like that when they were loose for molting and grew back fine. Many of my ducks are, at this time, molting wing feathers. They are nice looking Saxonys otherwise.

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

I think one of the other one's wings to cross slightly as well; I noticed that when I was taking these pictures. Thanks for all the help, everyone!