Is it normal for one of my duck’s wings to be droopy and the other fine or could this be angel wing?

[Drowsy_808]

 

[Drowsy_808]

Other wing:

 

[NatJ]

Your duck is a year old, right? Have her wings been like this the whole time?

Angel wing tends to show up when duckings are young. So if this is a new thing in a one year old duck, it is probably not angel wing. And if her wing has been like this for a long time and it doesn't bother her, then you don't need to worry about it, no matter what it may be called.

It doesn't look like angel wing to me.

If you look at photos of ducks with angel wing, you can see they generally have feathers sticking out to the sides (like the wings of an angel), when the wing is folded. Angel wing in young ducklings can be treated, because they are still growing. The idea is to wrap the duckling's wing in the correct position, so it will grow correctly. But in adult ducks, because they are done growing, angel wing cannot be treated. It would just be something the duck has to live with.

Here's an article that talks about angel wing:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/angel-wing-in-waterfowl.67929/

 

[Drowsy_808]

Your duck is a year old, right? Have her wings been like this the whole time?

Angel wing tends to show up when duckings are young. So if this is a new thing in a one year old duck, it is probably not angel wing. And if her wing has been like this for a long time and it doesn't bother her, then you don't need to worry about it, no matter what it may be called.

It doesn't look like angel wing to me.

If you look at photos of ducks with angel wing, you can see they generally have feathers sticking out to the sides (like the wings of an angel), when the wing is folded. Angel wing in young ducklings can be treated, because they are still growing. The idea is to wrap the duckling's wing in the correct position, so it will grow correctly. But in adult ducks, because they are done growing, angel wing cannot be treated. It would just be something the duck has to live with.

Here's an article that talks about angel wing:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/angel-wing-in-waterfowl.67929/

Yes, she’s currently one years old. No, it wasn’t like this when she was younger, but I’ve been noticing it this past two months or so. We assumed she was just lazy to keep her wings up since they’re likely heavy, so we didn’t know it might be an illness or anything of that sort until recently.

Oh, that makes sense. Thank you.
Do you perhaps know how long it takes for angel wings to get worse? If it’s been like this for two months and her wings still look fine, it’s probably not angel wings.

I’m relieved to hear that. Thank you.
Hopefully it isn’t angel wing then. Thank you for your help and information. I appreciate it greatly.

 

[NatJ]

Do you perhaps know how long it takes for angel wings to get worse? If it’s been like this for two months and her wings still look fine, it’s probably not angel wings.

I don't know for sure how long it takes for angel wing to get worse.

But I do know it is a problem that happens as a duck grows, when the joints and bones are still changing size and shape. Once the duck has finished growing, it should not be possible to develop angel wing.

I’ve been noticing it this past two months or so. We assumed she was just lazy to keep her wings up since they’re likely heavy, so we didn’t know it might be an illness or anything of that sort until recently.

I don't know ducks very well, so I can't be sure. But in general, if she acts normal in other ways, it is probably not something to worry about.

I see in another thread you are worrying that she might be deficient in niacin. Anything that affects walking can affect other parts of the body like wings, so you might see the wings change as she gets more niacin.

 

[Drowsy_808]

I don't know for sure how long it takes for angel wing to get worse.

But I do know it is a problem that happens as a duck grows, when the joints and bones are still changing size and shape. Once the duck has finished growing, it should not be possible to develop angel wing.


I don't know ducks very well, so I can't be sure. But in general, if she acts normal in other ways, it is probably not something to worry about.

I see in another thread you are worrying that she might be deficient in niacin. Anything that affects walking can affect other parts of the body like wings, so you might see the wings change as she gets more niacin.

Thank you, I appreciate the information.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Is she molting by any chance? On the wing that's dropping can you check for pin feathers starting to grow out?

 

[Drowsy_808]

Is she molting by any chance? On the wing that's dropping can you check for pin feathers starting to grow out?

She isn’t molting right now, no.
Oh, I would, but I don’t know what pin feathers mean. Sorry.

 

[NatJ]

She isn’t molting right now, no.
Oh, I would, but I don’t know what pin feathers mean. Sorry.

Pinfeathers are new feathers that have just started to grow.
They look like little plastic sticks, or like the ends of toothpicks, or like pins (which is why they're called pinfeathers.)

If you gently lift the duck's feathers and look underneath near the skin, you might see pinfeathers or you might not. If there are pinfeathers, then she is molting (losing feathers and growing new ones.) Some birds get almost bare when they molt, but others lose & grow feathers a few at a time so it is not as obvious and they are never naked.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

She isn’t molting right now, no.
Oh, I would, but I don’t know what pin feathers mean. Sorry.

They can be shorter or longer, but this is what pin feathers look like.

(Not my pictures they are from myfrugalhome.com)