Choking duckling?

[Amiga]

Are they running out of water before refills? I had a dickens of a time keeping up with their water usage, since they kept outgrowing the waterers.

Or are his brooder mates blocking him from getting to feed or water? The behavior reminds me of how ducklings get if they don't have food and water 24/7.

Not saying that's it, but I have seen that as a cause for gorging and regurgitating.

Is he getting treats? Have they had any chick grit yet?

 

[ChickenFox]

No chick grit or treats yet. I was waiting until they were a little older. Today I think they tipped their water pan over some because while it wasnt bone dry it was only damp when I got home. Maybe that was enough to make him sick?

 

[Amiga]

May have been.

 

[Finny]

This may not help, but is the waterer deep enough for the duckling to dunk their whole head under, so they can clean out their nares?

 

[ChickenFox]

It is now.

I was reading more and more and decided to get them a nice 2 in deep glass dog bowl that won't tip over and is deep enough for them to stick their whole bill in. No more soaked bedding because of spilling the water too. The little guy is doing much better today. I've been slipping pedialyte into their water and that seems to help. He's still stretching his bill open but isn't doing the neck thing anymore plus he's back to being active and happy. They just went for a short swim in warm water in the bathtub and boy did they love it! They dove straight under and swam to the other side of the tub before coming up for a second then back and to the other end again. It was so funny to watch. I thought they were drowning at first so I stuck my hand under and picked them up but they got mad and jumped right back in. Adorable little guys.

One stayed almost entirely dry and the other was pretty wet so I toweled them off after playtime before putting them back in the brooder. Their now preening. Thank you all for your support and suggestions!

 

[Amiga]

Okay, my imaginative, worrywart mind just needs to ask you if the little can get out of that container of water should he or she get in (thinking, wet and chilled).

My ducklings could do such weird things, did I ever show you this from another Duck Forum member? Things like this used to keep me awake at night.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/286957/duckling-in-a-bottle

 

[subhanalah]

You can take a butter tub (or any cheap plastic container with a lid) and cut a hole in the lid just big enough for their heads but not enough for them to get in and swim. They will make short work of your dog bowl lol. They think it's a miniature bath tub just for them! They will splash all the water out of it lol.

 

[ChickenFox]

Lol yes I just walked in on them going for a swim. They can easily hop in and out. I kind of like them being able to play in it but it will get quite messy...maybe a plastic liner in the brooder to make cleanup easier. If not I'll go with the butter container idea.

 

[subhanalah]

Oh, you can make a container with wire mesh (hardware cloth) over it to set the waterer on and that will catch the splashes. It doesn't keep them from popping and fouling the water,or splashing it all out and going dry, lol. Silly duckies!