Red wings? (with picture)

[pogo0685]

My goose has a niacin deficiency (I think I have changed foods to one containing niacin) and its wings seem to be very red and have no feathers, is this because of the vitamin deficiency or is it because its adult feathers will come in soon? I have not seen the ducks picking at it so I don't think its the ducks doing it. Does anyone have a link to somewhere that can show me a timeline of what happens as they grow up? I have found this for chickens but not geese or ducks. Thanks!

this is the best picture I could get of it. Hopefully you can see enough and if anyone cares to help me figure out about how old it is and what breed that would also be awesome! I was told it should be between 3 and 5 weeks old right now.

 

[shelleyd2008]

If it has no down on that area, either the ducklings are nibbling (quite possible) or you might have a mite problem. Usually the feathers start coming in under the down and you can't really see them at first unless the gosling gets wet.

 

[pogo0685]

Ok so if it IS a mite problem how do I handle that? Will the ducks and chickens get the mites also? And if its the ducks (I have never seen them do it but they are in a spare bedroom so its not like I can watch them 24 hours a day) what can I do? does it hurt the goose? Sorry for all the questions, thank you very much for your help

 

[Rosebud 18]

That looks just like my gosling. Last week his wings were really red to and this week his wing feathers are coming in.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
If it is mites you can tell by checking under the wings and around the vent. If you see any black specks that is most likely mite 'droppings' so it is safe to assume you do have them. You could put some Sevin Dust in the brooder and make sure to let the gosling bathe often. The ducks and chicks can get it, I would douse them with Sevin Dust as well.

 

[BAMABIRDS]

I highly dought mites. I also do not reccomend dOusing them with seven dust. I believe it's a case of irritating little duks nibbling on him.

 

[pogo0685]

Rosebud your little one is so cute! What breed is it? It looks very similar to mine.

I looked and there is no sign of mites, so its either the ducks or the feathers, it pulls it own out on its chest but its not noticeable except there were a few fuzzys on the beak after I saw it messing with its chest fuzz. Thanks for all the help!

 

[Balbinka]

He could be itching himself.

My parrot gets a bit itchy when she moults.
The feathers breaking through the skin can cause them to itch at the skin, creating redness.

If the ducklings are not nibbling him and he is mite free, I suspect the normal discomfort of his first pin feathers could be causing this.

 

[critterranch]

my calls and runners both due this too right before there baby feathers start coming in. i think it just extra blood flow before feathers start growing. i think it is just more noticeable because of the lighter color down and skin on darker geese or ducks it is less noticeable.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
BINGO! I have never had a yellow gosling that did not show pink red or even purple in the wing area just before the feathers start to sprout. the blood vessels are expanding to provide the large amount of blood needed to grow the wings from the little 'flappers' of goslings to the true wing of young geese.Tthe feathers alone use a large amount of blood when you consider that every quil is at one time or another filled with blood carrying materials to make the feather grow to full length and to produce the vanes that make flight possible. As for down the gosling may be rubbing some off because the growth itches, but even if he doesn't it is going to appear much thinner because the skin is growing in area while the down is not.
If your ducks or chickens are showing any interest in pecking or pulling on the feathers full of blood seperate them! If they pull a feather it will bleed badly but usually seal itself off. If they break a main quill there is no self sealing in a quil and they can actually bleed to death slowly through the broken quill. This is also when you want to keep an eye on the wing for angel wing. Good luck to you!