Farmed ducks have strong behavioural needs for water immersion and foraging that are almost universally denied in commercial production, making duck welfare one of the most neglected areas in farm animal advocacy.
Duck welfare in commercial production suffers from a fundamental mismatch between the species biology and the systems designed to house them efficiently. Ducks that cannot immerse their heads in water develop chronic eye irritation and dirty plumage that impairs insulation and thermoregulation. Preening without adequate water cannot maintain feather condition. Ducks on wet litter with insufficient drainage develop foot and leg problems. Force-feeding for foie gras causes acute distress, injury to the oesophagus, and organ enlargement. Despite being widely consumed, duck welfare has received far less advocacy attention than chicken welfare, meaning the welfare gap between commercial practice and biological need remains enormous. Providing even a rudimentary open water source dramatically improves duck welfare at modest additional cost.