Livestock

Duck Welfare and Access to Open Water

Ducks are highly motivated to access open water for bathing, preening and bill-dipping, yet the majority of commercially farmed ducks in the UK and globally are kept without adequate water access.

Key Facts

Ducks spend a significant proportion of waking time performing aquatic behaviours in natural settings
Preference testing consistently shows ducks will work hard to access open water over other resources
In the UK, over 90% of ducks are farmed intensively without bathing water
EU and RSPCA welfare standards differ significantly in open water access requirements

Welfare Considerations

Preventing duck access to water for bathing is a fundamental welfare compromise. Ducks deprived of water show elevated frustration behaviours, compromised feather and eye health, and cannot maintain the preening behaviours essential for thermoregulation and skin integrity. Provision of even simple shallow troughs produces significant improvements in welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Choose duck products from RSPCA Assured or free-range certified farms that require open water access
Support welfare campaigns calling for mandatory open water access for farmed ducks
Ask restaurants and supermarkets whether their duck products come from farms with water access
Support legislative reform requiring open water access as a minimum welfare standard for farmed ducks