Ducks are waterfowl with fundamental behavioural needs centred on water access that intensive farming systems routinely deny, causing significant welfare deficits.
Duck welfare in commercial production is characterised by a fundamental mismatch between species biology and production system design. Ducks are waterfowl in the most literal sense: their anatomy, behaviour, and physiology are all oriented around water. Denying them access to water for bathing does not simply remove a preference but causes active harm through feather deterioration, eye and nasal infection, and the frustration of a core motivational drive. The challenge for the industry is that open water provision creates manure management difficulties and disease biosecurity concerns in intensive production. These are real practical problems, but they do not justify the welfare harm of water denial. Solutions including nipple drinkers with splash allowance and shallow water access points can provide partial welfare benefit while managing the practical concerns.