Is it Angel Wing?

[M0therGoose]

What is angel wing exactly, what causes it, and how can I tell if my goose has it? One of my Sebbies, who is almost 2 months old , seems to have a wing that sort of droops and is constantly lifting it back up to a normal position. I noticed him doing this right after he hatched too. Is this Angel wing? If so, will it get worse? Anything to do about it?

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Going from your discription alone it is not angel wing. Angel wing is when the wing is not folded normally so the wing tip(s) point out at an angle from the body rather than along the body.
As to what causes it there are more theories than I care to mention (Try a search here for more information) It is a matter of debate for many waterfowl growers. You look at your birds to determine if they have it.
What your Seb has is called drooped or dropped wing and is usually temporary, The fact that it lifts it back to normal position is the key fact, angel wing seldom go back to normal position. Droop wing is thought to be caused by rapid feather growth in the wings and the wing muscles not developed enough to support the weight of the 'blood' feathers. They usually outgrow the droop on their own but it can develop into a habit where they just let them droop even after the feathers are all in and dry.
Angel wing can be cured if caught early, the wing is just folded normally and taped that way for 5-7 days. The same treatment makes drooped wing worse as the muscles to support the wing do not develop while the wing is taped.
I am fairly sure you will get some different answers as this is a subject of debate.

 

[M0therGoose]

thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. i am SO releived that its not angel wing!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
I know how you feel! Many of my home hatched geese had this droppy wing thing but they all out grew it by themselves. I think as long as he continues to lift it back to the proper position, he will be OK too.

 

[Cottage Rose]

We've been having a rather extensive conversation about angel wing on the Sebastopol forum.
See the Just Chatting and General Care forums for 2 separate conversations.
It's rather lengthy and drawn out but there is some good info in there.
I also have 2 articles on Angel Wing of my website
and a link to the Seb forum.

It seems all my goslings go thru gone through the droopy wing stage but like GD said its from the heavy blood filled pin feathers and it will go away.

Droopy Dude...

 

[Sasa]

I got a 2 year old Sebastopol and her right wing is grossly twisted out from the big bend to the tip. Does that sound like really bad twisted wing tip on one side? Her left wing is fine. I clipped all of the long feathers off of the twisted side. This girl was the Grand Champion "gander" at a big fair we have here...... she's a cute little thing who lays very pretty eggs, LOL.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I got a 2 year old Sebastopol and her right wing is grossly twisted out from the big bend to the tip. Does that sound like really bad twisted wing tip on one side? Her left wing is fine. I clipped all of the long feathers off of the twisted side. This girl was the Grand Champion "gander" at a big fair we have here...... she's a cute little thing who lays very pretty eggs, LOL.

Apparently the judges has no clue what they were even judging.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Not uncommon with 4-H fair judges.
I was once asked to judge our large 4-H Fair's Poultry division just because I had chickens.

I declined.

 

[Sasa]

I must agree, I think it's the funniest thing.

 

[Sasa]

Cottage Rose,

I had no idea, that makes it hard on the judges, doesn't it? She's a very good quality Sebastopol at any rate, maybe it's just bad twisted wing and it twisted after she was shown.