duck feathers coming in question?

[ajplmama]

I am feeding a general poultry and waterfowl ration with 18%. Maybe I should increase it? At 24% do you see any angel wing? I thought that occurred with too much protein? One of my guys looks like one wing is sticking out funny.

 

[Wifezilla]

I haven't seen angel wing. I do not believe high protein is the cause, but I am a bit of a rebel on this. I believe it is because of a high carbohydrate ration and a lack of greens.

If you are already seeing angel wing, I would try increasing greens since your feed is at 18%.

 

[ajplmama]

They forage all day but maybe I'll try some people greens too. It's only one duck with one side stickig out funny. If it actually seems determined to grow like that I may wrap it on the weekend.

 

[kitkatbahr]

Hi ajplmama,

I had the same thing happen with my muscovies when they started getting those feathers. I had one little drake that was very agressive with the others and picking their feathers. I ended up separating him for two weeks, to give them time to grow in their feathers. It worked.

Also, this same little agressive drake started looking like he might have had angel wing starting. His right wing started dragging very badly, on the ground. I didn't want to try and wrap it, as this duck is such a spaz anyway. I decided that maybe the weight of the feathers growing in was what caused it to start dragging. I thought perhaps maybe he wasn't strong enough to keep that wing up, so I ended up clipping his new feathers on that wing. It lightened it up enough that he was able to hold it up and it no longer drags on the ground. He seems to be okay. He is still such a spaz though!! LOL I call him "Speedy" as he runs really fast and is always on the "go".

Good luck with your ducklings.

Kathy

 

[ajplmama]

Kathy, that's good to know I'm not the only one. My son claims it's one "mean boy duck" that is doing allt he pecking but I haven't seen it yet. Maybe I'll have to think about seperating them til they grow a bit more. I'm off tomrorow so it'll be a good chance to watch them on and off during the day.