Turkey Newbie-Wing feather question

[fancyfowl4ever]

Quote:
If you read Ivan3 post again he has highlighted a part of the text that states that any fast growing bird can suffer from angel wing.

7 yrs ago when I got my first turkeys, I got 10 BB whites, 7 had angle wing as poults and I was told it is normal and they grow out of it, but 5 of them didn't and has the most terrible angel wings....... let me tell ya, those stupid wings are hard to bend into a nice position a dressed bird.
Now every time I see someone even starting with an angle wing I either tape it or paperclip it.

So since 7 yrs ago I haven't had a single turkey or any other fowl that has had angle wing.

 

[farm_mom]

Quote:
Okay, now I'm concerned again. Do you think I could wait and see for a bit longer, maybe a week or so and then try to treat if unchanged? I had 7 with the strange wings and now I have 5, so some already appear to be normalizing.

 

[ivan3]

fancyfowl4ever wrote If you read Ivan3 post again he has highlighted a part of the text that states that any fast growing bird can suffer from angel wing.

What I came here to point out, thanx! And thanks for the link. Here's one back at ya (directed at students but, hey, aren't we all?

), though nonplussed at the use of turkey feathers for wart removal, it's pretty interesting.

http://www.carrs.msu.edu/turkeypatch/turkeytrouble.PDF

farm_mom wrote Do you think I could wait and see for a bit longer, maybe a week or so and then try to treat if unchanged? I had 7 with the strange wings and now I have 5, so some already appear to be normalizing.

The only info. I found on this was regarding Bustard chicks, the suggestion was increased `exercise' that I take to mean larger area to move around in and some roosts to hop/fly up on (our Slates and Royals were like pop corn in a hot skillet rocketing straight up to the top of the brooder at three days of age, roosting at about two and a half wks). The heat lamp was directed into one area, the roost ran between the heated and unheated portion of the brooder and we just kept moving it up to just above their heads (Osage Orange branch suspended by twisty ties) as they got bigger. They sure liked to contend with one another over who got to hog the roost. I'd probably tape `em, but if another two or three start to `normalize' in the next few days it's probably going to be all right, and taping up/clipping one laggard poult a week from now would certainly cut down on the stress all around.

Hope the other five join the `fold', soon!​

 

[farm_mom]

Thanks Ivan3, they have lots of room (right now anyway) But we did just add a roost last night as they've started trying to roost on the waterer and flying out of the brooder entirely. I think I will wait a bit and see what happens with the others, because I'm afraid I'll have to separate the 5 if I have to treat. Thanks again for the advice, I really appreciate it!

 

[dangerouschicken]

Hey, I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was just saying I hadn't heard of angel wing in anything but waterfowl, so I didn't think that was the problem. It seemed like natural behavior to me. It was just a suggestion.

 

[Frosty]

Not sure that this is actually angel wing... with angel wing, the feathers and wing twist out, this one is hanging down. I think it will correct itself as the wing strengthens.

And female turkeys strut, too (and sometimes grow a small beard). They just don't gobble or extend the snood.

 

[farm_mom]

Quote:
Thanks for the clarification Frosty. I did some research on Angel Wing yesterday (I had never dealt with issue before) and I noitced my turkey's lower feathers just kind of hung down and a bit away from the body, but not twisting or going wildly away from the body as shown in some pictures on ducks and geese. So I remain hopeful that they will continue to grow into these wing feathers!!

 

[ivan3]

dangerouschicken wrote:

Hey, I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was just saying I hadn't heard of angel wing in anything but waterfowl, so I didn't think that was the problem

Hey, no offense taken. I'd never heard of angel wing in turkeys, but had read threads over on the Yahoo Heritage Turkey site, about `hanging' wings in poults. Fancyfowl4ever apparently observed something very much like it in the BBW's. I'd guess the muscles just aren't developing fast enough to support the wt. (in turks this sort of problem usually shows up in the legs).

Anyway, if you hadn't posted, I'd not have kept running through references and wouldn't have found this (posted the link over in Emergencies, but you're responsible

so I'll post it here as well. Hope you find it useful). Complete Avian vet. text.

http://avianmedicine.net/

Thanks!​

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Extend their snood! Now that one I gotta see.