WATCH for this While Swan Cygnets are Growing.
- This is Likely a Diet-Related Health Issues – Along with Genetics..
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An Article no longer available, Read:
Swans are Prone to a Condition called “Angel Wing.”
Apparently, so are Geese and Ducks. Aquatic Waterfowl..
As I Read, I found a Number of other Names given to this Deformity..
“Airplane Wing,” Slipped Wing, Crooked Wing, Drooped Wing,
Dropped Wing, Carpel Deformity, Carpometacarpal Deformity,
Flip Wing, Rotating Wing, Sword Wing, and a few other Odd Names.
Various Articles State:
Males develop the Deformity more often than Females.
It seems to Develop on the Left Wing more Often..
Unless BOTH Wings are Affected..
Flight Feathers Stick Out and Fray Easily.
Just Looks like Something is Wrong..
This Wing Deformity usually Prevents Flight.
The Condition is Generally Deadly for Young Birds/Waterfowl
in the Wild. They are Left behind by their Parents.
Unable to Fly from Danger, they are Easy Prey..
If the Wild/Feral Cygnets can not Leave when it is Time for them
to Head-off (Fledge) in the Late Winter the Parents may Kill them.
This Wing Joint (Wrist) the Twisting Develops in Young Birds..
as they are GROWING. They Grow so Rapidly..
In Swan Cygnets, the Angel Wing Typically begins when their
FIRST Primary Flight Feathers are Growing in.
Start to Watch at 10 Weeks of Age..
It will be Noticeable by 12 – 16 Weeks.
It is Felt the Weight of the Growing Primary Blood Feathers cause
the Distal-Primary Section (Wing Tip) to Sag Outward instead
of Lying Normally against the Body.
This Sagging puts a Strain on the Joint’s
Developing Ligaments and Muscles.
The Cygnet’s Fragile Bone Structure is not Strong Enough
to Support the Weight of the New Primary Flight Feather
which are Heavy with Blood. (Blood Feathers)
If the Cygnets Wings are in Normal Position by 5 – 6 Months,
there is a Good Chance this Deformity will NOT Develop.
A Beautiful Mute Swan Cygnet Wing – Healthy – Normal !!!
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A Nice Summary of Information about Angel Wing is here..
PoultryDVM This Article is for DUCKs..
http://www.duckdvm.com/condition/angel-wing
AS You Read this Article..
REMEMBER Swans need a LOWER PROTEIN DIET..
6 – 8 Percent.. VERY DIFFERENT then a Duck’s Diet.
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“IF” Angel Wing is Corrected while the Cygnet is still Growing,
it has a Chance to be Set Right.
If Attention to the Sagging is Delayed until the Cygnets are Older,
then the Deformity will likely be Permanent.
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People Unfamiliar with this Deformity, who Observe an Affected Swan
on a Pond, Lake or Waterway.. OFTEN think this is a Broken Wing.
Reporting this to the WRONG People can be Fatal for an Otherwise
Healthy Swan..living in a Public Captive Setting..
“Angel Wing” Waterfowl in Captive Care Generally do Ok..
It is Possible for a Wing Injured or Broken to have a Similar Look..
Look for any Sign of Trauma – Blood or the Whole Wing Dragging.
Ask if the Swan has been like this before or was it Normal before.
Observe the Primary Feathers, are they Shabby, Frayed.. ???
Is the Cygnet/Swan Eating and Behaving Normally ???
Then “Angel Wing” is more Likely the Reason..
Before CALLING for HELP …. Or
Before a Visit to an Avian Veterinarian..
SEND a Photo to a Knowledgeable Person..
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For a Nicer Look and to Help the Swans be more Comfortable,
the Feathers that are Out of Place can be Clipped AFTER their
Annual Moult..
Once the Blood has Atrophied from the Feather Shafts..
This Young Rescued Male Mute Swan.. had a Grade 2 – Medium Angel Wing.
The Feathers were in Sad Shape.. I Clipped them to Help his Appearance.
********* Suspicions and Theories.
Angel Wing – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_wing
Various Studies over the Years “Suggest” Angel Wing
May be the Result of a Genetic Weakness ???
It is Common for Annual Broods from the Same Pair of Swans
to Exhibit the Deformity..
And/Or a Diet Too High in Carbohydrates(Bread) and Protein
and Too Low in Various Vitamins and Minerals.. like Calcium,
Selenium Deficiency, etc.. are Contributing Factors.
Bread and Angel Wing Deformity..
https://corvid-isle.co.uk/thoughts-bread-angel-wing-wild-birds
An Example List from One Article..
High Protein Diet, Hypovitaminosis D, Manganese Deficiency,
Vitamin E Deficiency, Genetic Factors, Excessive Growth Rate,
Restricted Exercise , Incorrect Incubation, Hatching Problems,
Trauma, Weight of Blood-Filled Growing Primary Feathers. (UGH) !!
Most Articles DO came back to the Importance of a Good
Nutrient Balanced Diet..
All Creatures Great and Small Benefit from an Appropriate Diet..
Feeding Swan Cygnets – They are Growing SO Fast..
https://swanlovers.net/category/feeding-swan-cygnets/
Most Commercial Poultry Feeds have Vitamins (esp. Vit A, E, B-Complexes)
BUT, they are High in Protein.. Too High Out of the Bag for Swans.
Mixed with Corn – helps Reduce Protein to a Safer Level..
Lots of Green Pond Plants, DuckWeed, most Algae.. are GOOD.
A Diet of Only Corn will lack Vitamin A, as well as other Vitamins
and Minerials Necessary for Good Heatlh..
Swans Are Vegetarians
https://swanlovers.net/category/swans-are-vegetarians/
We Share Lots of Vegetables with Our Swans..
ESPECIALLY, Carrots.. for Vitamin A..
Carrots SINK – Place in Shallow Water.
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SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT: Wrapping or Taping..
If you Think about Support Taping or Wrapping a Wing Tip
Close to the Body..
It is BEST to Ask for Guidance from a Professional..
Try Gentle – Intermittent Support NO MORE then a Week..
DO NOT PUT the Birds in/on any Large Body of Water.
Until you take the Wrap/Taping Off.. Keep them in a Safe Place..
Start with 2 Days.. then Remove Wrap to Allow the Wing
some Time to Move Freely.. Wait 4-6 Hours before ReWrapping.
Many Saggy Wing Tips will Benefit from a Few Days
with this Extra Support.
The Elastic, Self-Adhesive Vetwrap is Great for this.
Wrap the Tape around the Metacarpals (Hand) and the
Radius/Ulna (Primary), so that it is held in a Normal folded Position.
Some Folks Support the Sagging Wing with a Bandana Tied around
the Body.
I have Used Painters Tape to Hold Wound Dressing in Place.
It Sticks to Itself.. but NOT to Feathers and Skin..
DO NOT Use DUCK TAPE.. it is TOO STICKY…
Wrapping TOO Tight or TOO Long MAY Constrict Blood Vessels
which WILL Alter Feather Growth and Even Affecting Bone Growth.
For Juvenile and Adult Swans with a Severe Angel Wing,
Surgical Pinioning of the Affected Wing may be an Appropriate
Treatment where the Wing Tip and Feathers are being Damaged.
I have Observed a Few Adult Swans with a Few Wing Feathers that became Misaligned when they were Pinioned.. These were just a Bit out of Order.
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Watch for this Wing Sagging as your Cygnets are Growing.
You Might be Able to Help..
We Brought Little “Hannah” into our Lives when she was 10 Months Old.
Our Little “Hannah” came from a Farm of Very Poor Care..
She had a Very Minor Wing Tip Twist. Just “a Little Angel Wing.”
She Matured into a Very Sweet “Maiden” Swan..
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I have Observed more “Angel Wing Deformities”
then I Worked with them.
I do know a BackYard Domestic Waterfowl Rescuer
that has Successfully Corrected Ducklings Wings,
that Start to Develop “Angel Wing Deformity.”
I have Done Lots of Reading along the Way.
Which has Contributed Greatly to my Basic Understanding
of this Waterfowl Syndrome..
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Organized and Compiled by Linda M. Sweger – August 2020
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If I had a Magic Wand !
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Beautiful Mute Swan Wings
