Ducks are highly water-dependent birds whose natural behavioral needs are frequently unmet in commercial production. Water provision is the central welfare issue in farmed duck systems.
Farmed duck welfare is defined primarily by the water access question. Ducks evolved as water birds with strong behavioral drives to bathe, preen, and submerge their heads — denying this through dry-land intensive systems causes frustration and measurable health consequences. The welfare case for mandatory water access is strong, the solutions are practical, and the cost is modest relative to the welfare benefit. Consumer and retailer pressure for higher welfare duck products is an important market complement to regulatory action.