Help! Call duck with bad wings!

[keyt1969]

I don't know what to do about this anymore. They seem to bother her a little too. When she's walking around and resting, she's constantly trying to pull them up. It's mostly her right side. It's like it's too heavy and she's dragging it. The left side seems to be a problem too but nothing like her right.

Is this an angel wing? I have wrapped it 3 times but she always seems to find a way out of the wrap. Yes, this is the same duck I posted pics of with the bloody wings. I feel so bad for her. She seems happy! She eats fine and swims fine, although she doesn't get in the duck pond as often as all the others. I think when the wings get wet it bothers her more.

From the back you can see them both just hanging

This is the worst one. It hangs like this all the time and she's always trying to pull it in. Should I try trimming it?

This one has a problem too but it's not near as bad!

I don't know, it just seems like she never rests as comfortably as the others because she's always trying to pull her wings in


Any ideas??

 

[katharinad]

It's slipped wing. Treatment is the same, which is wrapping. This duck may be beyond the time of fixing it, but I would still try it. You need to use vet wrap. First fold in the wing to have the low part all the way up. Then wrap the wing once, and then twice around the body starting right above the legs and one more time all the way up the chest. You may have not had it tight enough and the wing slipped back out. It is important to wrap the wing first or the bird stretches it out underneath the wrap and then it will hang like your duck does. Please try it again so your duck has a somewhat normal holding position.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
Thank you so much!! I just picked up some more vet wrap and wrapped her up again. I think last time I made the mistake of leaving her out with everyone else. So I fixed up a large rubbermaid container and I'll keep her in the house. How long should I leave it on?

hope it works this time!

 

[katharinad]

4 days, and you may take it off at night. I know it is hard work doing it, but it may be worse it. Re evaluate after 4 days, and do an additional 4 days if needed. After that it is a as good as it gets. Lets hope it is not dragging along any longer. The key is to do it early on. I have high hopes for a successful recovery.

 

[duckluck]

Hmmm...hard to help at a distance, but I have fixed a few of these by pulling a few of the featherson the drooping wings. It's tricky, especially with blood feathers...you have to take only one or two at a time, and they do bleed. Have to be sure you hold the wing in a correct position for it too because of the quick torque you are putting on when pulling. I pull the feathers straight out in the direction they are pointing and I do it quick, while holding the wing right at the base where the feather grows out from. Wings can droop like this when ducks are growing fast and their muscles can't keep up with the weight of the feathers. I usually pull a few a day until I see the wing start to come up, then I see where it's going. Wrapping it might also help, I haven't tried it. I do know the wings I have tackled with the pulling method have not drooped again after they have come up. The ducks try to help themselves too by constantly trying to adjust their wings to the proper position, and I believe this helps tone those muscles.

I wouldn't cut a blood feather...this allows the blood to flow right out, and the base doesn't seal. I know parrots have bled to death from breaking a large blood feather, which a wing would have.

Good luck!

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
Thanks for your input! I thought about trimming or pulling the feathers but thought maybe that was a bit drastic. I'm gonna try wrapping. Although this is my 4th attempt but this time I'm keeping her in the house to make sure no one else gets at it and that it stays dry. If this doesn't work then I might try your method.

 

[duckluck]

No prob. I pull problem feathers on birds whenever needed; the trick is to do it quickly, carefully and only a few at a time. It can be very traumatic for a bird to have too many pulled at once, and you want to pick them up an reassure them periodically in between so they don't start thinking they're going to get plucked all the time.