Ducklings-feeding question

[samuelsonfarm]

My 4 week old ducklings are very silly. When I fill up their feeder with food they go into a frenzy and eat and eat and eat and don't drink any water (even though it's right next to them) and then they start to cough and get big lumps of food in their necks, it seems like they can't swallow. Is this going to harm them? They seem to work it out and eventually go to the water bowl. No one has ever really choked, but there's a lot of coughing and sneezing going on when they're all eating. They always have access to food, but when they see me come out to put more in there they get so excited they just stuff themselves very quickly. Anyone else have this experience?

 

[Amiga]

Yes. I remember that, sometimes. Don't always do what's best for them, unlike people

ahem.

So as long as you have food for them with water, 24/7, it's just something to watch, because if this is their habit, you may just want to sit with them for a few minutes at refill time and make sure no one gets in big trouble.

Now the question I have is, would someone need to do duckie Heimlich? What would that look like? Seriously, I am thinking about what the safest approach would be. Might be in Storey's Guide, actually. But I am outside with the ducks right now....