6-8 week old muscovy ducklings gagging/throwing up mucus

[binji]

i have two precious baby muscovy ducklings that are 6-8 weeks old(not sure, but theyre pretty well feathered). i just got back from a four day trip, during which my sister took care of them, but when i got back they had no food or water and their cage was a bit nasty, so i fed and watered them.
then i noticed that one had mucus dribbling from her beak and as i watched she threw up clear/white mucus, and the other is gagging just a little. i gave them a deeper water bowl just a second ago.
ive never had ducks before. is this normal? do i need to do something?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I don't know much about ducks, but give them some electrolytes and vitamins in their water. It may be due to their going without water or being overheated. I remember reading where ducks need a place to wash their faces. Be sure and post on the duck thread, and you can PM Amiga, Pyxis, and others who know more about ducks.

 

[binji]

thanks, and oops ill go put this in the duck forum and see what they say but ill keep ur advice in mind!!

 

[Amiga]

It is very serious for a duckling to be without water.

They will overeat, and overdrink if they are dehydrated, and yours were dehydrated. Watch them carefully.

I would give them lukewarm water, and put electrolytes in it. I would also set the water in front of them for a few minutes, take it away for a few minutes, then put it back to prevent them gorging on the water.

I would wet their food thoroughly also, and just put a little in front of them, wait a while, then put a little in front of them again.

I would do this until they appeared normal. Then I would leave the lukewarm water and wetted food with them. But I would be checking on them every couple of hours till tomorrow.

@binji

 

[binji]

It is very serious for a duckling to be without water. 

They will overeat, and overdrink if they are dehydrated, and yours were dehydrated.  Watch them carefully.

I would give them lukewarm water, and put electrolytes in it.  I would also set the water in front of them for a few minutes, take it away for a few minutes, then put it back to prevent them gorging on the water.

I would wet their food thoroughly also, and just put a little in front of them, wait a while, then put a little in front of them again.

I would do this until they appeared normal.  Then I would leave the lukewarm water and wetted food with them.  But I would be checking on them every couple of hours till tomorrow.

@binji

thank you! i think theyre doing fine now; theyre in their kennel and both seem perfectly normal and she hasnt thrown up in abt an hour, but ill wet their food down and keep checking up in them

 

[Amiga]

Great news! I know I don't need to tell you this, but please bear with me - the ducksitter needs a retraining session. A good start is the sticky on Raising Ducklings. It's fairly short and to the point.

 

[binji]

yeah, she's not ever looking after them again. ive learned my lesson, and the duckling's lives are definitely more important than any trips i could take.

 

[Amiga]

This kind of thing happens from time to time. Glad they seem so much better.

I don't travel as much as I used to, either. It's rare for my beloved and me to go away together. One of us needs to stay home and tend the living beings.