duck vomiting water, please help!

[DarayTala]

((cross-posted from the emergencies forum because I was not sure if where this would more appropriately go, I hope I have not broken any rules in posting it in both))

Just a little bit ago my partner our one of our housemates went to go say hello to our duckies. They are four week old muscovies, and are at the moment living in a large brooder in my laundry room. My partner came up to tell me that when my housemate when to pick up our largest duck, that the duck seemed to vomit up water and then ran away. When he tried again to pick him up, the duck did the same thing and also defecated. When my partner went in a little later and tried to pick up the duck a third time, the duck vomited up a little more water again. He also realized after telling me this that they have gone through an abnormal amount of drinking water today, I'm not sure if that is relevant. It isn't any hotter than normal in my laundry room, so I'm not sure why they are drinking more, other then them getting larger. I have read that sometimes ducks vomit water or defecate when scared, but our big guy is usually the bravest of the bunch and doesn't usually seem very frightened at human interaction. They are not cuddled constantly and haven't imprinted on us, but we try and handle them a few times a day so they are used to it, in case we need to.



So, is there anything else that could be causing our boy to vomit like this? If fear is the only thing, is there a reason why he would suddenly be more frightened now? I know hes not used to my housemate, but my partner spends the most time with them out of all of us. If he had only done this with my housemate it would not have surprised me, but since he acted the same way with my partner I have to wonder if he is having some serious health problems, and what I can do about it.



Thank you for any help you can give!

 

[Amiga]

Hi!

Worrisome, aren't they sometimes?

I won't guarantee no big problem, but here are my thoughts.

At about three weeks, my runners (granted, different than Muscovies) began to act as if I were an axe murderer. All had been well up to that point. Then overnight it seemed, they literally ran screaming away from me. Turns out that as they hit that very early adolescent point, they get panicky around people, especially people who are taller than they are.

With some good advice from Duck Forum folks, I changed my behaviors and after several weeks, sigh, things smoothed out. Fast forward to today, we have been one big happy flock, I have a few huggers, all friendly happy ducks.

Stay low, make sweet gentle noises, bribe them with treats.

As far as the water vomit goes, do they have water 24/7. along with food? At their age, that is what they need, IMO, and ITOOMO (in the opinion of many others).

Welcome to Duckdom! Please keep us posted!

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's been a while but my Muscovies have done that, I think it's because they are afraid. Like Amiga said they go through alot of stages so with some tips she gave I think they will work it out. oops sorry

 

[CassandraLT]

Hi and

! I too am a new duck mom to 2, 15 day old Pekin. Jebby has done that and I've read on here that it is "normal" for ducklings to do it. But to also keep an eye out if they continue to do it as they get older. Jeniavee did it to me tonight as I picked her up to cuddle. She calmed down once I wrapped her in a warm towel and just talked to her.