So disappointed...Angel wing/twisted tip

[Terri O]

I never knew about wrapping when I had my first geese 25 years ago and 2 out of the three had angel wing. They went on to make a TON of babies and only 3 had it. Now it seems that it is bred out of the flock because I rarely get one anymore--of course now that I know how to fix it!

It should be fine though since you caught it so early on--I wouldnt worry about the genetics either. Terri O

 

[Hillside]

This isn't angel wing yet but could be in an instant. The blood filled quills are very heavy and the wing just can't support them so starts to fall over. Left like this the joint will twist and then you're in trouble. Just fold the wing as it would be normally putting all those blood quills underneath the part that attaches at the shoulder. Vet wrap or duct tape the wing so that it can't open or allow the heavy end to twist away from the body. Do not wrap around the body. Just the wing. This leaves the shoulder room to move a bit and stay flexible as well as letting the gosling keep it's balance. They don't like it but adjust quickly even getting in and out of water and swimming. Tape that wing by wrapping around the body and he could drown or do something else stupid as getting around is way harder than if just wrapping the wing. Some breeds, some strains and just certain individuals have more problem with this than others. They are growing very fast and their metabolism or whatever just isn't in sync with their growth. Not just Sebastopols either.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Thanks Hillside! I was going to wrap the wings because wrapping the body would be awkward. This happened so quickly!

First thing in the morning, he's getting wrapped!

Laurie

 

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Terri, I'm sort of worried about the same thing w/ my 5-6 week old buff, she is always having to readjust her wings and they do seem a little bit too big. B/f you noticed that this happened, can you tell me anything about how yours was acting/looking?

 

[Goosehaven]

Jennifer- my 8 week old roman tufted's wings started hanging down because they were too heavy when the blood feathers in the wings came in around 6 weeks old. He had to keep adjusting and pulling them up constantly but then they would fall right back down. Just in the last few days they are staying up normally without any problems so I think once they weren't engorged so much with blood they became lighter. She is the smallest gosling of the four I have and none of the others experienced that problem so I have to believe its just the heaviness that caused it.

 

[Kim65]

Yes those wings are heavy and probably "sore" or tender. After the feathers are more or less "in" the muscles have strengthened they will not have this issue.

You know their little vestigial wings (when babies) are so USELESS looking lol, there's nothing there, until suddenly bang, these big heavy feathers start growing in. Imagine going through this yourself. What a pain (literally). It's very normal, anyway. My ducklings are at the "constantly hitching up the wings" stage right now too.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

The only time I've ever had Angel Wing in my flock was last year. It happened to the smallest Sebbie female I had. Those wings were just so heavy for her to hold up. I did the taping thing and checked her in a week. Left the wing un-taped and in a couple of days it was twisting out to the side again. It took me three tries over a period of about 4 or5 weeks to correct it. It did finally correct it's self.

The bummer is, after it was corrected a Fox caught her and carried her away in the middle of the afternoon. It was on a Sunday and I was outside when it happened. I chased him down the best I could and he finally dropped her and ran away but by the time I ran over to her she was dead. No real marks on her...I think he either squeezed her too tight or she died of fright - the poor little thing. She was so ladylike and had an abundance of beautiful, curly, feathers. I was just sick over the whole thing.

Didn't mean to hi-jack. Just wanted everyone to know sometimes it may take a time or two (with the tape method) to correct itself. Laurie, you caught it so quickly, I bet he'll be just fine.

Your babies look lovely.