welsh harlequin choking or not?

[millers]

My three week old welsh harlequin (think its the male) kept opening his beak and drooling out water he was trying to swallow. Looked up remedies online and did all but pencil in throat. We think his neck is larger than the other harlequin and the two cayugas. I've been watching him for half an hour and he doesn't seem to be choking anymore but neck may be swollen. Does anyone know if the male has a larger neck and I just never noticed or could something be stuck there???

 

[sourland]

If something is stuck it should appear as a visible lump, or you should b e able to palpate it. In general drakes have a somewhat heavier neck than ducks.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Drakes do have thicker necks. Usually drooling is a sign of illness or stress, but sometimes ducklings seem to do it for no reason.

What kind of bedding are the ducks on?

 

[millers]

They have been in straw since they were three days old. They were free ranging in a kiddie pool when my daughter noticed him breathing heavily. When a held him and quickly but cautiously tipped him forward twice he threw up some water but I didn't see anything else. Know we put them back in fenced coop. Still worried about neck! He wasn't opening and closing his beak awkwardly when we put them away.

 

[sourland]

If they run out of water, ducklings will frequently over drink and then drool.