Sebastapol Goose - Wing…

[Clairemarie1982]

Hi! We have had chickens and ducks for years but this spring we got geese. We have a pair of Sebastapol geese whom we got at two days old, and are currently 7.5 weeks old. About two weeks ago, I noticed one wing on one of them seemed to keep slipping down and she has to keep lifting it up. All the poultry are together and on 16% feed, sprinkled with nutritional yeast. They all free range on grass for several hours a day (when myself or a family member can be out watching for predators). The flock doesn’t get any junk food, just treats of lettuce and black oil sunflower seeds. Anyway the wing is not sticking out 90 degrees like I have seen pictures of angel wing online. I have not experienced anything like this before so I’m not sure if it’s angel wing or something else? I have waited hoping it would clear up but it hasn’t. Even if it’s only cosmetic I would like to fix this as I feel so bad she has to keep lifting it. I can imagine that must be really annoying? If she doesn’t lift it, it will droop down and almost touch the floor. Other than this she seems happy healthy outgoing and friendly. Any help or advice would be appreciated. And if you do recommend wrapping it would you please give details and link a video if possible.

Thank you! - Claire

 

[Goosebaby]

It’s too heavy and she’s not able to hold it up correctly. It could be turning into angel wing but it doesn’t look like it’s twisting so maybe not.

If I could make a suggestion, switch them to a 20% or 22% feed until they’re done growing. 16% is very low for growing and molting birds.

 

[Clairemarie1982]

Thank you for your response! I had read a different post here about a Sebastapol goose with the same wing slip who was about the same age. The person posting said they had the goose on a 20% feed and people commented saying that was too high to either switch it to a 16% feed or keep the current feed and cut it with oats. So I’m confused now, I thought I was doing the right thing. Do you think wrapping the wing would help at all?

 

[Clairemarie1982]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sebastopol-gosling-with-droopy-wings.538744/

Here is the thread. What do you think? All ideas are appreciated- I just want to get this baby’s wing right!

 

[Goosebaby]

The causes of angel wing is debated.
Too high of carbs and protein has been linked to the problem.
Genetics has also been linked to it, so some say it’s genetics, others say it’s diet.

In my opinion it’s both. Out of a whole gaggle of goslings only one or two can end up with angel wing, other times they’ll all get it.
One of my gosling got it but none of her brothers or sister got it, and out of all of my geese only she’s had it. I feed my geese 22% Purina flock raiser. I think she got it because she was a cross breed and she ended up with a tiny slow growing body but with huge wings she had to grow into, her metabolism was probably a bit different too. I didn’t adjust the feed because the others were fine, after her wing was wrapped for a few days she was fine too and hasn’t had any negative effects from the feed other than that she puts on weight more easily. She’s a smol round child even now.

What angel wing actually is is that the growing blood filled feathers become too heavy for the growing wrist bones to hold in the correct position causing the wrist bones to twist, which needs to be corrected. I’ve had a theory that it can also be caused by malnutrion, with the bones not forming properly.

So there’s really no right or wrong answer to why or how it’s caused, it’s the sort of thing where if it appears it needs to be corrected with wing wrapping, and diet adjustment if it’s needed, but there’s really no way to predict if it will appear or really prevent it to some extent.

 

[Clairemarie1982]

Thank you for your lengthy response. I appreciate it. I am going to try to tape it. Would you be to send me a link to a video of how to do it properly? And one wing? Or both wings? I have vet wrap and I also have duct tape. The coop they are in has as a steep ramp to get outside to their pen. I am a little worried if this little one is taped up and has no use of wings she may fall off the ramp? I have a separate pen with no ramps, do you think I should put the geese in there for the days by themselves this way I don’t have to worry about her falling? Sorry for so many questions and thank you!