I am pretty new to having ducks. I have a 3 month old Khaki Campbell (who I believe is a male), a 1 year old Welsh Harlequin, and 3 4 weeks old Pekins. Well, the Welsh quit laying eggs about 10 days ago. She was at almost an egg a day. I attributed it to them moving to their new house. Well, the past few days, the other ducks (minus one duckling) have a sometimes wheezy sound and make a small gag like gesture. The gag gesture doesnt happen often. Other then the one not laying, they are eating, and drinking just fine. The ducklings are quite big and fat. I am being paranoid? There is no disharge or anything. They have free access to clean water that they can swim in or duck their beaks in at all time. They do live with the chickens (who are more than just fine), and are outside most of the time. They are bedded down with a mix or rice hulls and pine shavings and it is cleaned daily (sometimes twice). The closest vet who will see a duck is 2 hours away and wants around 50 a piece for the exams and requires that all be seen.... any help would be greatly appreciated to put my mind at ease. The are my kids pet ducks so we do not plan on eating them.
Are you being paranoid? Well, concerned is a better term. But honestly, based on your account, everything is probably fine. I'd only take them to a vet if they're showing definite symptoms or signs of distress, such as off their food. Egg laying naturally slows down or stops in the summer. Somewhat breed dependent, and also very dependent upon weather conditions. I don't know about the Welsh Harlequins, never having had them, so I can't speak to how they are as layers. My Rouens that laid daily from Feb to about early June are now down to an egg every 2-3 days, and based on past years experience, any day now will be done until about Jan/Feb next year.
My WH will "gag" if they eat too fast (mornings especially), the game grower pellets. So, I feed them some peas first (in water), then give them pellets. It slows them down enough to gulp lots of water with their peas to counter act the gulping of pellets.
I have a gray male call and he's a little over a year old. He has always made that sound you are talking about. Usually when he's swimming or flotting on the pond. It used to worry me all the time, but there dosen't seem to be anything wrong with him. He's just a weird duck, but very loveable. It is a wheezing squeeking sound and then he gags and then he's fine. Like i said he has always done this at least once or twice a day and then nothing for the rest of the day. So i guess it's just something some of them do. I have 19 calls and he's the only one that does it. Hope that makes you feel a little better. Mine aren't laying at all but thats because they have ducklings following them around, lol.
