HELP!! My mallard keeps choking.

[chancie025]

Yesterday, I went to put my pet female mallard, Chancie, in her pen. She immediately went to go eat like normal and suddenly after a few bites she stopped. I knew this was weird because normally she eats like a pig. I walked over and saw she wasn't breathing very well. I picked her up and noticed there was a piece of food lodged in her throat. I could see it bulging out of the left side of her neck. I immediately knew she was choking and I was able to massage the piece of food down. She swallowed it and then acted perfectly normal. Later on that night when it was feeding time again she ate a few bites and then stopped. I looked and saw again that food was getting caught in her throat. I made her drink a bunch of water and began to massage her neck and it luckily went down and she was able to swallow. I am now scared to feed her and watch her like a hawk. What could be wrong? She is eating the same food she has been eating for three years, just regular laying pellets. Could she have an impacted crop or a blocked gizzard?? I have no idea, please help!

 

[DUCKOBSESSED]

Do they have grit? How deep is their waterer?

 

[chancie025]

She has had crushed oyster shells before but not for a while. She generally avoids it when I sprinkle it in her food. Her water is about 5 inches deep and she can fully submerge her bill. Could an extra boost of calcium from grit be what she needs?

 

[DUCKOBSESSED]

I would give her free choice grit. She needs it to help break down her food. A lot of people say they dont need it with just pellets but i find it still helps.

 

[chancie025]

Ok thank you so much! I will definitely do that

 

[DUCKOBSESSED]

OK keep posting updates. I hope that helps.

 

[AlohaDuck]

Grit indeed.