Is this angel wing? (6 week old Khaki Campbell)

[khakicampbell10]

Hi,
I’m a first time duck owner. I’ve heard about angel wing, and I am concerned that one of my ducklings might have the early stages of it. She is 6 weeks.

All the photos online show the very exaggerated angle of adults with angel wing, and that doesn’t help me. I’m attaching some photos. Her left wing is the one that I’m concerned about. Can someone give an opinion?

Sorry, they aren’t the best photos but she was running around way too much

I fed them purina flock raiser (20% protein) for the first 2.5 weeks, then switched to a 16% protein. I supplement niacin powder.

They get to free range outside (supervised) for about 2 hours per day. They get peas as a treat.

thanks in advance!

 

[Sheepheart]

Yea really hard to tell. Maybe when you put them up for the night try and get more pictures, she might stand a bit more still then.

angel wing occurs when they get too much protein and a section of the wing feathers grow in a bit more erect. It’s not super concerning and the the only problem it can cause is when flying and if you have other birds that like to mess with stuff that seems out of place.

I have a khaki who has angel wing, no one pays any mind to it. She doesn’t try to fly as often as the others as she doesn’t get the same height or distance as them but she is still able to.

you can correct this with a body wrap. It will force the feathers that are growing erect to lay flat. I don’t know how long you’d have to keep her in it. and while she has it on she won’t have use of her wings.

edit: if she does have angel wing you may have to cut back on their free range time as they may be getting to much protein from what they are foraging

 

[Ratchnick]

I think your just seeing the flight feathers coming in. Looks normal to me.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

It's difficult to tell from the photos, but I don't see the pronounced outward twist that happens with angel wing, so agree with @Ratchnick. I'd keep an eye on it, and if it still concerns you, wrap it.

There's debate about the causes of angel wing: protein, genetics, and carbs are commonly considered possibilities. I've only seen it develop once, in a very fast-growing Muscovy drake being fed waterfowl feed - he and his siblings loved the food (weirdly, it smelled like cinnamon rolls to me). They'd gorge themselves on it, if allowed. He was the only one of the group to develop it, so I suspect a too high carb intake plus possible genetic predisposition. I don't use that feed anymore and haven't seen angel wing since...and if you've handled a Muscovy drake, you know how glad I am to not have to wrap any more wings!