We bought three one-day old Ameraucanas. When they were 3 days old, we started noticing that one of them held one wing differently. The wing feathers are coming in, and while one wing looks normal, the other seems odd. (See pics) It is hard to explain, but when a wing is folded by their side, you have the top layer of feathers from the first half of the wing, and then the second half of the wing folds up under those to create a bottom later (Im sure there are technical terms I could use here, but Im describing a natural wing fold as best I can). On her "weird" wing, that bottom layer (second half of wing) doesnt seem to naturally want to fold up under the top later, and as a result it sticks out to the side a little.
BTW: These photos were taken today, she is five days old.
When you carefully stretch her wing and compare it to the normal wing, the "weird" wing seems to be missing a couple feathers in the center, or they arent developed as well as the normal wing. Also, the feather "sheaths" on the weird wing seem to be more prominent, or maybe they are more noticable if the feathers arent growing in correctly.
If you pick her up and carefully adjust her wing to fold properly, she'll hold it that way fine until whenever she starts playing and flaps or ruffles up her feathers, then it's stuck back out. Sometimes she'll fix it herself, but most of the time it stays stuck out.
Side note: I found out today that a friend who also bought a couple chicks from the same batch seems to be having a similar issue with one of hers.
Anyone have any insight, suggestions, info, thoughts or advice on whats going on here? Is it a deformity possibly, or maybe something that will change as her feathers continue to grow in? She is not one we are wanting to breed.... our chickens are egg laying pets, so don't worry about us passing on genetic issues if that is what the problem is.
Edited to add.... she's acting fine, not favoring her wing, playing like a normal chick.
BAD WING:
GOOD WING:
============================
BAD WING (this is how she normally holds it):
BAD WING (after I adjust it for her):
GOOD WING:
BTW: These photos were taken today, she is five days old.
When you carefully stretch her wing and compare it to the normal wing, the "weird" wing seems to be missing a couple feathers in the center, or they arent developed as well as the normal wing. Also, the feather "sheaths" on the weird wing seem to be more prominent, or maybe they are more noticable if the feathers arent growing in correctly.
If you pick her up and carefully adjust her wing to fold properly, she'll hold it that way fine until whenever she starts playing and flaps or ruffles up her feathers, then it's stuck back out. Sometimes she'll fix it herself, but most of the time it stays stuck out.
Side note: I found out today that a friend who also bought a couple chicks from the same batch seems to be having a similar issue with one of hers.
Anyone have any insight, suggestions, info, thoughts or advice on whats going on here? Is it a deformity possibly, or maybe something that will change as her feathers continue to grow in? She is not one we are wanting to breed.... our chickens are egg laying pets, so don't worry about us passing on genetic issues if that is what the problem is.
Edited to add.... she's acting fine, not favoring her wing, playing like a normal chick.
BAD WING:
GOOD WING:
============================
BAD WING (this is how she normally holds it):
BAD WING (after I adjust it for her):
GOOD WING:
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