Ducks have strong behavioural needs for water access that are severely frustrated in intensive indoor housing without bathing or swimming opportunities.
The inability to access water for preening and head immersion causes measurable welfare harm to farmed ducks. Eye and nasal problems from inadequate water access are almost universal in intensive systems. Providing at minimum a nipple drinker height permitting head immersion, and ideally open water access, dramatically improves duck welfare. Consumer demand for higher welfare duck drives adoption of water access systems.