Managing an adult goose with Angel wing

[DB_Tex]

I rescued 3 geese from the park a few weeks ago-- 2 Africans, and one that I suspect to be a pilgrim or toulouse x african. The latter has a case of Angel wing, or twisted wing tip.. either way both her wing tips seem tipped upside down, and all her big wing feathers were ratty and dead when I brought her home. I trimmed them off to make her more comfortable, but is there anything else I can do to improve her condition? Is it causing any pain for her?

 

[mnferalkitty]

From what I have read and know about angel wing it does not cause pain, I would just leave it alone, Lots of ducks and geese live with it without any problems.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Twisted wing tip is a condition in Sebastopol geese only cause from the curly feather gene.

Angel wing can be found in all waterfowl. Once they are adults you can't try and correct it. You can do as you did though and trim the protruding feathers so they do rub or get caught on fencing.

 

[crazyrescuelady]

I volunteer at a wild life rescue center and got several of these brought to us this year. We give them lots of crushed eggshell and oyster calcium. Unfortunately we have not had alot of success. They were calcium deficent as goslings. Now they are older if may not correct. This is why it is imperiative to let people know that feed the ducks and geese bread is fun for the kids it is dangerous. The bread leaches calcium from mom's and they don't get any additional calcium form any other sources. Please encourage people to take crushed corn or water fowl feed to the park. A bag of feed will save many ducks and geese and they could teach the kiddies about their role in the enviroment. I know I couldn't wait to go to the park and feed the ducks when I was little and lived in town.

My heart breaks now to think of how many I could have harmed with my ignorance.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Some geese are genetically disposed to angel wing, and there are many writings on poor diet contributing to it. You can't correct it with diet changes alone, or by adding additional calcium, and it cants be wrapped to be fixed once they are adults or even juveniles with hardened feathers grown in. Caught early while still growing wrapping will often help.

 

[Queade]

Angel wing is serious and not generally found in nature but where humans feed goslings and ducklings bread. Due to a high-calorie diet, especially one high in proteins and/or low in vitamin D, vitamin E and manganese, one or both carpus (wrist) joints are retarded in their development relative to the rest of the wing. It is very sad because they cannot fly. on our lake this past fall, in Ontario, the Canada geese flew south leaving behind 2 young ones with angle wing. When the lake froze they had no protection from predators and all three carcasses were found one morning during the first big cold spell. It is heart breaking to see year after year. i have now communicated with our homeowners association and it is now a by-law that people cannot feed baby geese or ducks.
Although some people think it may be genetic, as a biologist watching them each season i do not agree with the theory. We had 3 nesting pairs in 2012, 2 with 4 goslings and one with 2 goslings, each brood of 4 had an angel wing gosling. They were not in the same broods, and no the eggs could not be confused, they were over a week apart in age, very different in size initially. only time will determine if it is diet, i will not know until next summer and will have to watch the neighbours closely!

 

[Queade]

As for raising domestic birds, if diet is a cause of angel wing it is certainly a red flag for unbalanced diet. I have found the following sites interesting and useful.
http://jkenny.hubpages.com/hub/Wildfowl_and_Angel_Wing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_wing
http://www.avianweb.com/angelwing.html
http://www.metzerfarms.com/AngelWing.cfm?CustID=81775
http://thepamperedpulletsfarm.com/Angel_Wing.html

 

[kolleenkirk]

I rescued 3 geese from the park a few weeks ago-- 2 Africans, and one that I suspect to be a pilgrim or toulouse x african. The latter has a case of Angel wing, or twisted wing tip.. either way both her wing tips seem tipped upside down, and all her big wing feathers were ratty and dead when I brought her home. I trimmed them off to make her more comfortable, but is there anything else I can do to improve her condition? Is it causing any pain for her? 

 

[kolleenkirk]

I bought 2 baby geese. At about 7 weeks of age, both wings on the female had Angel wings. Read that if caught early, can be fixed. Took her to my veterinarian and he was not sure what to do. So he wrapped the wings into normal position. By the time we got her home, the wrap came off. So I went back online and it said to wrap gently with masking tape, being careful not to cut off the blood supply. We left the tape on for one week and her wings are perfect! But, unfortunately, this will only work if a goose is 7 to 12 weeks old. You must catch it while they are young. My veterinarian was so happy that he has asked me to be a consultant if he has questions concerning birds. I also have 2 exotic parrots and 5 chickens. And in the past, I had a gander with just one Angel wing, but he did not exhibit the anomaly until he was 5 months old. He lived a happy 16 years.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I bought 2 baby geese. At about 7 weeks of age, both wings on the female had Angel wings. Read that if caught early, can be fixed. Took her to my veterinarian and he was not sure what to do. So he wrapped the wings into normal position. By the time we got her home, the wrap came off. So I went back online and it said to wrap gently with masking tape, being careful not to cut off the blood supply. We left the tape on for one week and her wings are perfect! But, unfortunately, this will only work if a goose is 7 to 12 weeks old. You must catch it while they are young. My veterinarian was so happy that he has asked me to be a consultant if he has questions concerning birds. I also have 2 exotic parrots and 5 chickens. And in the past, I had a gander with just one Angel wing, but he did not exhibit the anomaly until he was 5 months old. He lived a happy 16 years.

Good work for catching it early.. and