Angel Wing

Angel wing is a syndrome that affects primarily male aquatic birds like ducks, geese, and swans. This causes the last joint in a birds wing (our equivalent to a wrist) to become twisted and the feathers to stick out. This is what we found in one of the signets on our lake during our walk.



This happens due to a high protein and carbohydrate diet that lacks vitamins E and D as well as manganese, the most well known culprit being white bread, according to some experts this is a common misconception, and is just due to to people feeding them. This causes them to not hunt for normal food as often because they know that they will get food anyway. Genetics are also to blame. This diet affects mainly younger, male birds that are still growing. If only 1 wing is affected it is normally the left one for unknown reasons, but either way the bird cannot fly. The only way to reverse the damage is to basically strap the affected wing the the bids side and place it on a nutritionally balanced diet, but in adults the damage is irreversible and the bird is now permanently crippled.

We have contacted a professional about the situation and we hope they will be able to help him soon before his condition worsens.

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