3 week old ducklings vomiting or choking?

[Jessica1981]

new duck owner here, have had chickens for years. Daughter has been asking for ducks for years so I finally caved and purchased some at TSC about 3 weeks ago.

Today she let them have their play bath and she cleaned their cage and after putting them in there she checked them out and one is bending/stretching neck up and drinking quite a bit. Would then seem like it is flushing it’s nostrils and phlegm and bits of food would come out of nose and mouth when it shook its head. Thought was choking at first but now I’m wondering if they were vomiting? The other then began doing the same thing.

They are resting now and no longer doing the phlegm/food snot rockets but are sitting in front of the waterer taking sips every so often and the first one is still kind of bending/stretching neck. Poop looked normal and they are talking.

Any thoughts? Will be monitoring closely but didn’t know exactly what they were doing

 

[Isaac 0]

Could you post a video? Shaking their head rapidly, and or gasping for air is usually a sign they may have something stuck in their throat, like feed, bedding or grass. Gently place your hand along her neck, run it down, do you feel anything? What kind of bedding are you using, have you fed them any treats recently? Are you providing deep enough water so they can clean their nares out with?

 

[Jessica1981]

I do not have a video. They are not and have not gasped for air. They were breathing from their nose the entire time. It was not a rapid shake of the head. I did run my hand along their neck and belly and felt nothing. No lumps or anything that felt abnormal. They have the same bedding and feed. No snacks. And plenty of water at all times for them to clean with.

 

[Isaac 0]

What bedding are you using? I would just monitor them closely and let us know if they start doing the symptoms again.

 

[Jessica1981]

Pine shavings. My daughter is closely monitoring them and we will be for the next few days to make sure there are no complications.