My duck suddenly has angel wing???

[aduckstolemyheart]

I have a duckling that is now almost 8 weeks old, and is on 16% protein food, and he now suddenly appears to have angel wing?? Never had any of my babies get angel wing, and I heard it was mainly something to worry about when they're very young. Why so late, and can it be the food??? It's not high in protein. I'm really confused. Can he be fixed so late in life?

Pic and notice in the last one, taken on the same day, he's holding it just fine, what's up with that?

He's the mostly black one:

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Could be his wing was pulled on by one of the other ducks. I don't think angel wing "suddenly happens." I'd watch it, there's a good chance that it will be pulled back into place unless it was really damaged. Was the last pic later in the day or earlier on?

 

[70%cocoa]

Don't get too worried just yet

I'd say it's what it called 'split wing'. I'm getting my info from Dave Holderread's booklet 'Wing disorders in waterfowl', pages 28 and 29. He describes split wing as a failure of the feathers to fold properly. It can be temporary or permanent. The temporary variety can happen because the duck caught its feathers on something when it flapped, or another duck grabbed its wing or the feathers got wet. The feathers get out of alignment but they fold again properly when the wing is flapped again. The permanent variety is caused by the same kind of thing as angel wing (which he calls twisted wing) - diet, high brooder temperatures, overcrowding, feather pecking, injury....

If your duck is able to fold his wings again properly then I'd say it's just temporary and the duck equivalent of him having messed up his hair. If it persists then I'd wonder if he has had a sudden injury to the joint which is making it hard for him to fold his wing properly.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Ok. I feel somewhat better then. When he was a much younger duckling he had the pin feathers that stuck like angel wing, but within a week they looked normal, so I figured it was simply how they were growing in.

All the pics were taken in succession, at the same time. I've noticed it since yesterday, and it's been persistent since then, except for the times (like in the last pic) where it looks fine.

It has been REALLY hot lately (high nineties and heat indexes in the 100's), and I noticed the "high brooder temps" in list of causes. Could outside temp do the same thing?

 

[70%cocoa]

Hmmmm.... I am not sure how high brooder temps affect wing growth and at what age but I'd be surprised if the daytime temp has been the cause....but I am just guessing.

If it keeps appearing and you want to do something about it the treatment for it is the same as for angel/twisted wing - taping it. You could do that if it persists over a matter of days. I can see that his flight feathers are still growing, so giving the wing a bit of support with taping might not be a bad idea if it makes you feel better to do something active about it - it won't hurt your duck. Holderread does say that the majority of cases appear between 6 and 10 weeks of age (and it can also occur in adult birds when the new feathers grow back after a moult - same with angel wing, adult birds can develop that too).

I have a drake that came to me with split wing due to an injury when young (fighting with his brother

) and about half the time he folds his wing properly and half the time he lets it poke out a little. Because it is from an old joint injury that has now set in place there is no point in taping it (he is two). If his owner had taped it at the time then it might have fixed it up. That's why I personally lean towards taping for something that seems like it's not just temporary.

Chances are it might correct itself though, even if you do nothing.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Ok, sounds like I should get some vet wrap and tape it to be sure. I have never seen anyone picking on them. They sleep with their siblings and mama at night, and share the yard with the adults during the day. Can I leave him with the rest once I tape him, or do I have to separate him? He's so bonded with his family, I am not sure how he'd do inside. He's never been in.

 

[70%cocoa]

Yes, just leave him with the rest. No need to separate him or do anything else different.

I don't think it's a must that you should tape and some people will see it as a bit over the top....but I kinda think, well, 'better safe than sorry'.

The other thing I'd do is catch him and just check that it's not caused by a damaged/broken feather that's causing things to not fold up properly. Sometimes that can be the cause. If it's just a damaged feather I'd probably not worry about taping it.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

I'll catch him when I let them out in the morning, and check it out. It's on both sides though, so I am leaning away from an injured feather. I'm with you, if there's something I can do now, why not? Better safe than sorry.

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

 

[70%cocoa]

No worries!

If it's both wings then that'd encourage me to tape.

Let us know how he goes!

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Will do.

I notice it with both, but one is definitely worse than the other. Hopefully I can figure out how to wrap it without him pulling it right off lol.