Is something wrong with my hen's wing?

[Amina]

I have a hen that has one wing that looks odd. I got her around point of lay, so I don't know if this is a genetic defect, or if maybe she injured her wing as a baby. Does anyone have a guess? Here's her good side, for reference:


And here's her bad side:


Does anyone have an idea why it looks like this? It's like her primary flight feathers stick out while her wing is folded.

The reason I care is because I'd like to breed another, older EE in the flock. I *think* I can tell the difference between their eggs based on size and the fact that the younger EE usually has calcium deposits on her eggs. But if the younger EE has a genetic defect, then maybe I need to separate them for a bit to be 100% sure that I'm not incubating the younger EE's eggs. If it looks like she probably just broke her wing as a baby though, then I'll still try to get the older one's eggs, but just based on appearance, not by separating these two.

 

[BantamLover55]

That is a condition known as a slipped wing.

It is sometimes genetic, but it can also be caused by a high protein level in the feed. If she is the only one in the flock with the slipped wing, I would guess that it is genetic.

 

[Amina]

Thanks for the information! My neighbor got this girl by herself as a pullet, I'd guess maybe 8-9 weeks old, from a friend. I know my neighbor was not feeding her right... she was put on layer feed at that age (8-9 weeks). I have no idea what she was fed when she was younger than that. Does that sound like it's likely to be nutritional?

 

[BantamLover55]

You're welcome!

I would guess that it is nutritional. Do you know what percent protein she was on or what type of feed it was?

 

[Amina]

I really don't know and have no way of finding out, for when she was a chick. From about 8 weeks to 18 weeks though, I could probably find out, but I know it was layer feed from tractor supply. Probably 16% protein and way too much calcium.

 

[BantamLover55]

Yes, that would make sense.

Slipped wing can happen when the feathers grow faster than the bird's body can support it. Feathers contain calcium, so that sounds like something that could cause it.

It should not hurt your bird or decrease egg production, but if she was a show bird, that would be a disqualification.

 

[Amina]

Is slipped wing the same as angel wing? I was thinking only waterfowl got that.

 

[BantamLover55]

No, both chickens and waterfowl can get angel wing, but most chickens that get angel wing are broilers.

A slipped wing (I'm going off of the Standard of Perfection) is just where the feathers grow down and out of place. Your chicken has a very good example of a slipped wing.

 

[Aronia]

I think it has slipped wing.

 

[BantamLover55]

Yes, this is a slipped wing, not an angel wing.